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HISTORy 






ORGANIZATION, MARCHES, CAMPINGS, GENERAL SERVICES 
AND FINAL MISTER OUT OF 



BATTERY M, 



FIRST REGIMENT ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY, 



TOGETHER WITH DETAILED ACCOUNTS OF INCIDENTS BOTH 

GRAVE AND FACETIOUS CONNECTED THEREWITH; 

COMPILED FROM THE OFFICIAL RECORDS 

AND FROM THE DIARIES OF THE 

DIFFERENT MEMBERS. 



MEMBERS OF THE BATTERY 



PRINCETON, ILLINOIS: 

MERCER & DEAN. 

1892. 






/{> 



CONTENTS. 



PART [.—KENTUCKY CAMPAIGN. 

CHAPTER I. 

Page 11. Authority to raise a battery First rendezvous Camp Douglas 
First death Muster roll Commissioned officers Government 
bounty— Pastimes Sword presentation Guns— Non commissioned 
officers Guard house rules Firstpay First deserter. 

CHAPTER 11. 
Page 20. Marching orders Hound for Dixie -Louisville— First man 
discharged— A doctor- A scare Explosion — Its cause— Bill and "Bat- 

( )ur new lieutenants. 

CHAPTEB III. 

Page 26. Marching Orders Lebanon— Columbia Millersville— Negroes 
ordered out Target practice Fortifying. 

CHAPTEB IV. 

Page mi. Campbellsville Chase after Morgan— Battle in official circles 
New Years Day Campbellsville sacked— Green river bridge Col- 
umbia < aniphelisville again. 

CHAPTEB V. 

Page 36. Forrest expected On the march New Haven cheese knives 
Quinine battery Heavy snow Farrell's sentence Louisville 
Changes in the brigade ordered on board the boat. 

PART II. CHICKAMAUGA CAMPAIGN. 

CHAPTEB VI. 

Page 43. The .lames Thompson Portland— Smithland — Contraband 

articles The Meet Up the Cumberland Dover Nashville — ('apt. 
Miller leaves us. 



IV. CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER VII. 
Page 18. On the March— Franklin Army of the Cumberland— Forti- 
fying -Receive a detail Coburn's brigade— Marching orders — Gen. 
Granger Sheridan's division. 

CHAPTER A' I II. 
Page 53. Thompson's Station — Spring Hill — Forraging — Return to 

Franklin— Fort Granger begun— Cleanliness vs. quinine— More de- 
tailed men— Guns exchanged— Capt. Thompson — Company cooks — 
Attack on Franklin— Sanitary supplies — Shelter tents— The oven- 
Fay day— Pipes and shell works— Target practice— Whisky. 

CHAPTER IX. 

64. Marching orders — Triune — Grand Review — Lieut. Colvin 
leaves ns Attacked — Compliments — Drummed out — The reserve 
corps On the march — Salem — "Warren's Grove — A joke. 

CHAPTER X. 

Page 70. Shelbyville— Gen. Whittaker — New detail— Reviewed by Gen. 
Rosecrans — < 'apt. Miller discharged— Wartrace. 

CHAPTER XL 

Page 76. All together— Cowan— Cumberland mountains— Steven son— 
1 Jridgep< >rt— Spencer promoted— Cross the Tennessee — Raccoon moun- 
tains—Lookout Mountain — Rossville— Brigade and division com- 
manders— Ringold— Peavine Creek— 111 omens. 



CHAPTER XII. 
Page 85. Move to the front — Engage a battery — A surprise— Take posi- 
tion—Battle of Chickamauga- Off the field— The killed and wounded 
-< Mlu-ial Reports — Our position — Gen. Rosecrans and Col. Banning's 
lett ers— Rossville — The gap— Chattanooga— Congratulatory orders. 

CHAPTER XIII. 

Page 9(\ Camp in the cemetery— Starve Ridge— Capt. Spencer arrives 
Our condition Fourth Corps formed— Officers' rations — Rosecrans' 
farewell Cross the river— Fort Negley— Patton's Mill— Detailed 
men return Wager decided — Deserters shot. 

CHAPTER XIV. 
Page 110. Preparing for the fight— Orchard Knob— Battle of Lookout 
Mountain Sherman's movements— Battle of Mission Ridge. 



CONTENTS. v. 

PART III. KNOXVILLE CAMPAIGN. 

ciiaitki; XV. 

Page 121. Another detail Onthemarcli Chickamauga Creek "Bat- 
tery" deserts us Our destination Divided Fine forraging Knox- 
ville. 



CHAPTER XVI. 

Page 130. Colvin's Battery Brabson's Mills Marching orders -Blain's 
\ mads Prospects Veteran Excitement. 

CHAPTER XVII. 

Page 139. On the March — Dandridge French Broad— On the retreat- 
Destruction of grain and clothing Strawberry Plains— Knoxville 
again— Successful ruse— Preparing to Leave. 

CHAPTER XVIII. 

Page I 19. Campbell Station— Loudon Gen. Sheridan leaves us— Bridge- 
builders' strike— A general interviewed— Gen. Howard— Marching 
orders. 

PART [V.— ATLANTA CAMPAIGN. 

CHAPTER XIX. 

Page 163. On the move — Calhoun — Cleveland— Gen. Newton in com- 
mand—Preparations for the campaign. 

CHAPTER XX. 

Page 167. The start— Catoosa Springs -Rocky Face — Dalton- Battle of 
Resaca— The field — Resaca — Calhoun — Adairsville — Kingston. 

CHAPTER XXI. 

Page 180. Corps badge— Saltpetre works— Burnt Hickory— Pumpkin- 
vine Creek— Hot work scurvy. 

CHAPTER XXII. 

Page 189. Tine Mountain— Shelling the enemy— Pumping prison 

Kennesaw Mountain— Hotly engaged— Memorial to Gen. Howard— 
Another doctor— Charge and repulse— Col. Harker killed -Left sec- 
tion guns turned over — Preparing for another move. 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER XXTII. 



Page 211. Marietta— How we spent the 4th— Vining Station— Chatta- 
hoochee River— Generals as marksmen— Cross the river. 



CHARTER XX IV. 
Page 218. Rattle of Peachtree Creek— The enemy's account of the action. 

CHAPTER XXV. 

Page 224. Siege of Atlanta— Gen. Howard transferred— Shell the city- 
Night tiring— Artillery brigade. 

CHARTER XXVI. 

Page 234. Move to the right— Tait a prisoner— Hard rations— Before 
Jonesboro— Rough and Ready — Enter Atlanta— In camp— Congratu- 
latory orders. 

PART V.— OUR "HEFTY" CAMPAIGN. 

CHAPTER XXVII. 

Rage 247. The mouthpiece— Marching orders— Experiences of citizens 
— New way of drawing rations — Camp rumors— Theatre. 

CHAPTER XXVIII. 

Page 259. Leave Atlanta— Chattanooga again— Fort McAloon — Our 
camp— Company fund— Our prominent characters — Muskets — Sani- 
tary and Christian commission— In the wood and lumber business — 
Raffle— Marching orders. 

CHAPTER XXIX. 

Page 277. Cleveland— Veterans vs. recruits — A green musket — (rood 
news— Salutes— Bad X ews — Mourning guns — Charleston — Salutes. 

CHAPTER XXX. 

Page 289. We're going home— Corn ketchup— Nashville— Old chums- 
Louisville— Not hungry— Camp Douglas— Raffle for " Battery "—Dis- 
charged — Deaths— Recruits— Transfers — Deserters — Discharged — 
Recapitulation. 



PREFACE. 

\\ hereveb there is a body of people, qo matter what be their 
age or nationality, who are associated together for a length of 
time, whatever be the pursuit they are following, there are always 
incidents connected with the time of their brotherhood, that they 
in after times are fond of recalling to mind, and often of impart- 
ing to others. This is true, no matter what was the social status 
dt' the fraternity, whether they were at all times at perfect peace 
toward each other, or whether there were occasionally, or even 
often, broils among them. 

The greater the vicissitudes connected with their society, the 
more firmly are they hound together, and the more there is they 
wish to retain in memory. 

If each keeps a journal of his doings how eagerly does he re- 
fer to it. and how his eye sparkles with satisfaction if he finds the 
item he wished. How different if he finds no mention made of it. 
Hut others may have noted it. yet he cannot have recourse to their 
private diaries. 

\\ hat a solace then to the members to have a complete history 

of that association as it would he if it was the concentration of all 
tin' journals into one. 

In all the different phases of life, there is nothing that will so 
cement the tie- of friendship as when lite is constantly or at in- 
tervals endangered, ami where each is felt as a shield fortl ther. 

Ami where can life he more endangered than in war? And what 
greater war can he pointed to than the one for the 1 nion for 
Freedom the war of 1861 to 1865? 



PREFACE. 



This book is intended to give all the minutiae of the doings of 
Battery M of the Fust Regiment of Illinois Light Artillery. The 
different items are taken from the official records and from diaries 
kept by different members. 

It is written expressly as a book of reference for the members 
of the Battery, and therefore, no attempts are made at flowery 
speech, rhetorical flourishes or exaggeration. There is nothing re- 
corded but facts known to all the participators. Should, however, 
the doings of a single company, that was engaged in the great 
struggle for a free government, prove of sufficient interest toothers 
than the actual participants to warrant their perusal of this vol- 
ume, they may do so with the assurance that what they read is the 
truth. 

All our doings are recorded, not omitting such as would be 
likely to be condemned by those who were never in the field, and 
such as are in our favor are not magnified. 



PART I. 

Kentucky Canopaign. 



CHAPTER I 



During the excitement occasioned by the raising of 
troops in the spring and summer of 1862, for reinforcing our 
armies in the Held. John B. Miller, of Ottawa, Illinois, on April 
I'.tli. 1862, received authority from Adjutant General Fuller, of the 
State of Illinois, to raisea company of Held artillery. He opened a re. 
cruiting office at Ottawa, and boarded the men. as fast as they 
enlisted, at the Everett House. < hi the 20th of Ma\ he moved the 
nucleus of the battery to Camp Wallace, near the city. Here recruits 
did m>t come in sufficient numbers, so about the first of June 
he took his men, numbering about forty, to Camp Douglas, near 
Chicago. At first they occupied the old Camp Chapel, but early 
in July they were moved into barracks at the northeast corner id' 
the camp, where they remained during the remainder id' their stay 
in Illinois. 

On the L2th id' June forty-two hail enrolled their names, mid 
with John H. Colvin as First Lieutenant, were mustered into the 
service of the Tinted States for the term id' three years, or during 
the. war. Some of these did not remain, hut ;i!l who did were 
again mustered in the general muster-in of the company. The 
name-- of these will he designated by small capitals in the muster- 
roll. 

As soon as the President Issued his call in the summer of 1862 
for 600,000 men. -,, numerous were the applications of good men 
a- to cause the rejection of some of those who had heeti previously 

mustered in. On the 12th of August a satisfactory lot, and of the 
proper number, were finally mustered into Uncle Sam'- service by 
Capt. Christopher, at Camp Douglas. 



12 



BATTERY M FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 



The following are 
time of enlistment : 

N'AMK. 

Adams. Thomas 
Adler, Dankmar 
Aldrich, William 
Amberg, John 
Anderson, Edward 
Axtell, Marquis L. 
Babcock, Henry 

Baker. Joseph 
Baker, Thomas S. 
Balzigar, Nicholas. 
Banks, Morgan 
Banks, Nathaniel P. 
Barnes. Leroy H. 
Barr. Josiah N. 
Batterson. William 
Beedle, Albert 
Bonser, Thomas 
Boylon, Christopher 
Brailev, Watson 
Brandon, Peter 
Briggs, Joel 
Briggs, Sidney 
Briggs, Wesley A. 
Brown, Henry H. 
Brown, Horace 
Brown, William B. 
Brown. William M. 
Brumfield, Alonzo L. 
Cain, Edwin 
Carey, George 
Carroll, William 
Clancy. Sylvester T. 
Clute, Charles J. 
Cogswell. William 
Colby, John B. 
Coslet, James 
Dempsey, Michael 



the names, ages and places of residence at 



AOL. 


RESIDENCE. 


41 


Chicago, Illinois. 


L8 


Chicago, Illinois. 


42 


Chicago, Illinois. 


24 


Chicago, Illinois. 


25 


Ottawa, Illinois. 


29 


Thornton, Illinois. 


43 


Ottawa, Illinois. 


23 


Chicago, Illinois. 


25 


Chicago, Illinois. 


21 


Thornton, Illinois. 


32 


Hobart, Indiana. 


17 


Hobart, Indiana. 


18 


Chicago, Illinois. 


29 


Pontiac, Illinois. 


30 


Ottawa, Illinois. 


36 


Watertown, New York 


20 


Peoria, Illinois. 


63 


Ottawa. Illinois. 


22 


Ross Station. Indiana. 


27 


Chicago, Illinois. 


29 


Thornton, Illinois. 


21 


Thornton, Illinois. 


33 


Thornton. Illinois. 


35 


Chicago, Illinois. 


20 


Chicago, Illinois. 


24 


Pontiac, Illinois. 


22 


Lake Station, Indiana. 


19 


Ottawa, Illinois. 


34 


Dimmick, Illinois. 


33 


Channahon, Illinois. 


21 


Chicago, Illinois. 


18 


Chicago. Illinois. 


26 


Chicago, Illinois. 


33 


Hobart. Indiana. 


22 


McHenry, Illinois. 


20 


Jackson. Indiana. 


24 


< 'hicago. Illinois. 



KENTUCKY CAMPAIGN. 



L3 



\ \M E. 


V.GE. 


1 >ezelle, Samuel 


31 


1 >olton, George E. 


22 


Drake. .lames B. 


22 


Duffy, William 11. 


28 


Farrell, William 


34 


Felt. Orson B. 


22 


Fish. Lucius 


18 


Flint. Henry -1. 


27 


France, Charles 


26 


Fuller, Charles C. 


35 


GERBERT, A DAM 


35 


Gillette. Edwin ( '. 


28 


Gregg, William 1\ 


32 


Hack. August 


25 


Hamilton. Richard 


27 


Hamilton. William 


26 


Hammond, John 


22 


Hansell, Joseph R. 


28 


Harding, James E. 


23 


Harter, George S. 


26 


Hendershot, William 


29 


Henderson, Erastus 1-'. 


23 


Hendrie, Stephen 


28 


HOFFER, < IHRISTIAN 


in 


1 lornung, Max 


26 


1 h iu ard, John 


29 


How \kii. Robert 


24 


1 1 ntchins, < reorge A. 


22 


1 1 utTmaii. Alexander 


27 


Hughes, Bernard 


■r, 


Hunt. Charles G. 


20 


Hunt. Joseph 1 >. 


36 


Irwin. Andrew T. 


21 


Johnson, Hiram ( ). 


22 


Johnson, Nathan 


2: 


Judd, Charles M. 


■r, 


Kane, Timothy M. 


21 


Kauffman, John B. 


23 


K ellermann. August 


1" 



RESIDENCE. 
I Ihicago, Illinois. 
Thornton. Illinois. 
Manlius. New York. 
( Ihicago, Illinois 

< Ihicago, Illinois. 
Chicago, Illinois. 
( Ihicago, Illinois. 
Lake Station. Indiana. 
Chicago, Illinois. 
Chicago, Illinois. 
Chicago, Illinois. 

( Ihicago, Illinois. 
Ottawa, Illinois. 
( Ihicago, Illinois. 
Peoria, Illinois. 
Manteno, Illinois. 
Ottawa. Illinois. 

< Ihicago, Illinois. 
Pontiac, Illinois. 
Thornton, Illinois. 
Hooart, Indiana. 
Ottawa. Illinois. 
Ophir, Illinois. 

< Ihicago, Illinois. 
Chicago, Illinois. 

< Ihicago, I llinois, 
Wilmington, Illinois. 
( Ihicago, I llinois. 

low a ( 'it v. Iowa. 

< Ihicago, Illinois. 
Thornton, I llinois. 
Thornton, Illinois. 
Chicago, Illinois. 
Chicago, Illinois. 

< Ihicago, I llinois. 

< Ihicago, Illinois. 
Palos, Illinois. 
Chicago, Illinois. 

< Ihicago, Illinois 



14 BATTERY M. 1 


7 IRST I 


\ A M K. 


AOK. 


Kelner. Henry 


32 


Kempf, John 


24 


Kieper, Henrj 


42 


Kopf, Jacob 


19 


Korah, Alphonzo R. 


22 


Lissenden, George 


28 


Lissenden, Stephen 


19 


Loomis, Maynard 


24 


McDermot, Andrew 


39 


McLaflin, Myron 


26 


Mack. Patrick 


22 


Marcks. Charles 


29 


Marti)). .Ioh)i 


27 


Mead. Frank W. 


17 


Mercer, Ellis K. 


17 


Merchant. Francis M. 


22 


Miller. Charles 


29 


Morrill. John L. 


56 


Mundell, Alonzo G. 


25 


Murphy. William J. 


22 


Newton, Frederick A. 


18 


Nichol, William 


44 


Norton. Conrad 


44 


Offenlock, Henry 


19 


O'Toole, Patrick 


25 


Patton, Samuel 


28 


Peters, George W. 


20 


Peters. Thomas 


23 


Phillips, Lee 


is 


Porter Cephus L. 


25 


Powers, Chester B. 


35 


Prenier. Jacob 


20 


Proctor, .Ioseph 


21 


Quimby, John 


33 


Ralph, Joseph 


31 


Rennau, Henry 


19 


Rhodes, Thomas N. 


24 


Richardson, J nomas 


29 


Rollins, James 


26 



FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 



RESIDENCE. 

Chicago. Illinois. 
Pontiac, Illinois. 
Chicago. Illinois. 
Milwaukee. Wisconsin. 
Ottawa. Illinois. 
Chicago, Illinois. 
New York, New York. 
Chatsworth, Illinois. 
Wilmington, Illinois. 
Chicago, Illinois. 
Chicago, Illinois. 
Chicago, Illinois. 
Chatsworth. Illinois. 
Mc Henry, Illinois. 
Princeton, Illinois. 
Chicago, Illinois. 
Ottawa. Illinois. 
Pontiac, Illinois. 
Hobart, Indiana. 

Pontiac. Illinois. 
Chicago, Illinois. 

( Jiicago. Illinois. 
Chicago. Illinois. 

Chicago. Illinois. 

Chicago, Illinois. 

Chatsworth, Illinois. 

Chicago. Illinois. 

Chicago. Illinois. 

Elmwood, Illinois. 

Lacon, Illinois. 

( 'enter. Illinois. 

Hobart, Indiana. 

Lake City, Illinois. 

Ottawa. Illinois. 

Bridgeport. Illinois. 

Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 

Hobart, Indiana. 

Peoria. Indiana. 

Pontiac. Illinois. 



KENTUCKY CAMPAIGN. 



L5 



NAME. \«'l'. 

Roper, Frederick 26 

Rowley, Albert .!. 28 

Ryan, Daniel 22 

Ryan, William 29 

Schaeffer, John 32 

Scales, John C. 21 

Schnasse, August 23 

Setzer, Peter W. 24 

Si i i,i-.i.. William 32 

Short, Patrick 21 

.Simpson, George 2 I 

Smith. < lyrus V. 25 

Spencer, David E. L9 

Stebbins, Edq \k 20 

Stewart, Joho C. 12 

Stewart, Robert 39 

Stone, Israel \Y. 23 

Summers, James 21 

Tait, Magnus 25 
Thompson. Edward Gr. 17 

Thompson, Henry J. 1'.' 

Titus, Augustus H. 21 

Trowbridge, James F. 23 

Tninilnill. James S. 33 

Walker, William 44 

Wells, Richard J. 20 

W i STENDORF, FREDERIC o'J 

Weyl, Samuel S. 24 

White, Edmund X. 22 

William. Collin, 'J'.' 

Williams, Robert M. 30 

Wilson. Alfred S. 2"t 
Winnemore, Ezra S. E. 25 
Wright, < larlos E. 

Young, Louis. 19 

X inger, Job n \-'> 



RESIDENCE. 

K ickapoo, Illinois. 
( Ihatsworth, Illinois. 
Bridgeport, Illinois. 
( Ihicago, tllinois. 
( Ihicago, Illinois. 
Lake Stat ion. 1 mliana. 
\\ atertow n. \\ isconsin. 
I 'out iac, Illinois. 
( >ttawa, Illinois. 
Ottawa. Illinois. 
Bloom, Illinois. 

< Ihicago, I llinois. 
Marseilles, Illinois. 
Marseilles, Illinois. 

< Ihicago, Illinois. 
Chicago, Illinois. 

< Ihicago, I llinoi>. 

< Ihicago. I llinois. 

I Ihannahon, I llinois. 
Ottawa. Illinois. 
Ross Station. Indiana. 
Chicago, Illinois. 
( Ihicago, Illinois. 
South Bend, Indiana. 
Chicago, Illinois. 
( Ihicago, Illinois. 

< M taw a. Illinois. 

( Ihicago, Illinois. 
Thornton, Illinois. 
Chicago, Illinois. 

< Ihicago. I llinois. 
Centralia, Illinois. 
( Mia wa. I llinois. 
Chicago, Illinois. 
Mequon, Wisconsin. 

< Ihicago, I llinois. 



16 BATTERY M FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

l T ]> to this time there had been much discussion among the 
men and sonic little diplomacy on the part of some as to whom 
should be the commissioned officers. But now all conjecture was 
ended. John B. Miller was mustered as Captain, George W. Spen- 
cer as Senior First Lieutenant, and John H. Colvin as Junior First 
Lieutenant. 

Now time began to wear away slowly, for like all green sold- 
iers, we were anxious to get to the front where we could "serve 
our country." To cause the hours, which seemed like weeks, to 
be less dull, and to drive away the thoughts of home we had left, 
we instituted various games, such as ball, which furnished much 
needed physical exercise ; sparring, in which art we had some 
adepts : and the various games of cards, dominoes, and occasionally 
of an evening, a dance. And when we could bring our minds to 
them, books and papers received our attention. Although con- 
sidered " Big Farmer Boys." we numbered among our members 
mechanics of nearly every craft, as well as farmers, sailors, miners- 
teachers, doctors, etc., etc. That we might have music in camp. 
a contribution was taken up and a violin purchased. Sidney 
Briggs was considered the best player, and the violin was entrusted 
to his care. Our officers, whom we had sworn to obey the next 
three years, were not forgotten. Swords worth from 8125.00 to 
$80.00, according to the rank of the officer, were presented, one to 
each of them, on the 27th, in Camp Douglas. Wm. J. Murphy 
presented the swords on behalf of the company after delivering an 
appropriate speech, to which each officer briefly responded. After 
this we adjourned to the " Pleasure Gardens" and demolished a keg 
or two of beer. 

After having received our guns, which were six 3 8-10 inch 
James Rifles (brass) our attention was turned to learning the 
drill. This was an exercise all sought with avidity and great was 
considered the privilege of service in firing the " morning gun." 
To add to the attractions of the camp, a skilled bugler was em- 
ployed, who gave lessons in the bugle calls. 

Isaiah Harper was permitted to leave on account of illness, but 
rejoined us on February 27, 1864. 

In some way an instrument of punishment, that was in use in 
the camp, had received the name of l ' Mulligan's Mare." Riding 
on this four-legged wooden frame was a penalty for violation of 
camp rules. On the 22d a member of the Battery was placed 



KKNIliKY CAMPAIGN. 1 "i 

upon it and forced to sit there until he became insensible and fell 
t<» the ground. 'Phis, of course, exasperated us, and though we at 
first vowed the destruction of the hated steed, we reconsidered our 
resolution, and fortunately none of our uumber were again called 
upon to ride this charger, which still lived when we left Camp 
Douglas. 

A squad of pris rs of the regular guerrilla stamp arrived on 

the 24th. The sight of these caused us to wish more than ever to 
be sent to the front, and question upon question was put to our 
officers to know when we should be likely to leave. 

On the 29th the prospect of an election for non-commis- 
sioned officers was quashed by the following names being read to 
u- as the men who were to fill the offices then assigned them, and 
these appointments were to date from the day of the muster-in. 
Win. P. Gregg.as Orderly Sergeant : Win. J. Murphy a- Quarter 
Master Sergeant. The duty Sergeants were Cyrus l\ Smith. 
Andrew T. I rwin, ( Iharles Miller, Stephen Hendrie, E. S. E. Winne- 
more and Richard J. Wells. The Corporals were Mercer, Clute, 

Stebbins, Short, Schnasse, Judd, G "ge Lissenden, A.mberg, Barter, 

Dolton, Hansell and 11. H. Brown. Powers and Carey were the 
blacksmiths; Trumbull and Brailey the wheelwrights; Titus, 
bugler; Wesley A. Briggs, wagon-master; Michael Dempsey, 
stable-sergeant and farrier ; Beedle and Quimby, saddlers. These 

'" lions'" might not all have had office had we heen allowed the 
election which we expected in compliance with the customs of the 
earlier period of the war. 

On Sunday, the 31st, Gov. Yates visited the camp, and we. as 
well as the rest of the troops who could, had to go out and display 
our soldierly qualities. We attempted to fire a salute, hut with 
such orders as "No. 1 tire."" "No. 2 shoot.'" "No. 3 shoot, shoot, 
-hoot!"" la friction primer had failed) together with our genera] 
verdancy in the art of soldiery, our display was not very creditable. 

As artillery men are supposed to he armed with sabres and 
revolvers, on the first of September sabre bayonets (''cheese 
knives." as we styled them l were issued to the privates, each of 
the ••nous'" receiving also a French revolver. With the bayonets 
were brought some regulation hats. These being of inferior 
quality, we did not take, hut had a sufficient uumber made by a 
firm in the cit\ at a cost of two dollars each. 



18 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

During our sojourn here, there were several camp prayer 
meetings in our barracks, and after leaving - Chicago, such 
services were occasionally attended by members of the Battery. 

On the 6th Sergeant Winnemore was reduced to the ranks for 
neglect of duty, and private Tait promoted to the Sergeancy. On 
the 7th Sergeant Bendrie was reduced for a similar offense, and 
on the 8th Corporal Amberg was made Sergeant, and Private 
Brumfield promoted to be Corporal. 

Passes had been very meagerly dealt out, only two men being 
allowed to be absent at a time. Holes in the fence, a pleasant 
word to the cam}) guards, and finally, "stable passes," that were 
issued as soon as we drew our horses, furnished means of egress 
and ingress independent of passes. But in the use of these we had to 
be very careful, as a mis-step invariably took us to the guard 
house, and in this institution there was a law not at all agreeable 
to a freshman. It had been passed and was enforced by the 
sophomores, and required each one. as he was admitted, to pay beer 
money, and refusal was followed by a whipping with straps until 
the required sum was "forked over." This was disagreeable only 
as long as the strapping lasted ; as soon as that was accomplished 
one was ready to join in inflicting the same punishment upon one's 
successors. 

In taking the horses out to water, we would occasionally 
"double up," i. e.. let one take back the horses two had taken out, 
and to return. Lieutenant Spencer was always ready to pass us in 
by the guards. This and the march to the lake for the baths once 
in two or three days, sufficed to keep us alive and active. We 
were prohibited from holding communication with the rebel 
prisoners, yet as they got their water from our hydrant, we did 
buy trinkets from them, which they manufactured from beef 
bones and rubber buttons. 

On the 12th, the whole Battery visited the Great Horse 
Fair then being held near our camp, but as it rained very hard. 
we made but little show with our parade and attempted drill. 

Occasionally, while out on drill, we would fire blanks in' order to 
accustom our horses to the noise, and soon Became such adepts at 
loading and tiring that we imagined ourselves already veterans. 
Lieutenant Spencer was our drill master in mounted drill at all 
times. 



KENT! CK1 i A.MPAIGN, 



L9 



On the 15th we received one month's advance pay. and had a 
portion of the Articles of War read to us. This \\a^ aboui all 
w e ever heard from thai volume. 

On the Kith we were marched through the city, the whole 
Battery looking as trim as possible. Sitting so long in the hot 
sun was found uncomfortable, and all were glad to return tocamp. 

On the 23d we signed the pax-rolls, imagining thai with the 
signing came the money, but the sequel will show when we re- 
ceived it. 



CHAPTER II. 



At last, on the 24th of September, the long-looked-for 
marching orders came. Such running to and fro, asking for 
passes to go to town to lay in supplies, leaves of absence for a 
day to visit friends, packing and repacking knapsacks, etc., beggars 
all description. Our haversacks were crammed with sufficient pro- 
visions for a "Sherman's Raid," while our knapsacks were found 
to be far too small to admit of carrying half we had prepared. 
And when, on the 27th, we moved our baggage to the railroad, 
we found five wagons insufficient to haul it all at once, while our 
caissons and gun carriages were almost concealed from sight by 
the piles of knapsacks heaped upon them. 

We moved out of camp at 9 A. M., wondering how many 
would ever again enter those gates, and how long ere that time. 
All were in the best of spirits, and some had placed themselves 
outside of so much spirit as to be soon placed hors de combat. 

Many of our friends were at the train to bid us adieu. Our 
guns were loaded on Hat, our horses in box, and we were 
furnished with first-class passenger cars. We loaded at the cattle 
yards of the Michigan Central Railroad, and at 1 P. M., bade fare- 
well to home and friends, and were ready to send iron messengers 
to our country's foes. 

We left many of our comrades behind, some in hospital, some 
who had not yet returned from a visit to their homes, and one or 
two from a dislike of the army in prospective. 

To replace two of the missing ones. John Martin, aged 27, 
and Joseph \Y. Dyson, aged 28. enlisted with us. 

At Michigan City the Government treated us to all the coffee 
we could drink. From there we took the N. A. & S. I{. R. to 
LaFayette. and from there to Indianapolis on the L. & I. R,. il.. 



KENTUCKY CAMPAIGN. "J 1 

and finally, the Jeffersonville l>. If. to that place, which was 
reached at 9:15 I'. M., on the 28th, having been delayed on the road 
-Mine hours by one of the cars jumping the track. At Jeffersonville 
our train halted for the night alongside the stock pens and we were 
introduced to the odors and noises of a corral of mules, with the 
peculiarities of which we afterwards became much more familiar. 
We lay here until 2 P. M.. of the 29th, when we crossed the Ohio 
River on a pontoon bridge made of coal barges, properly anchored 
and covered with planks, and entering Louisville, took up per- 
manent camp, at the corner of Preston Street and Broadway, on a 
\ acaut lot. 

To many of us the si^-ht of so many black fates was a 
novelty, for, as far as we man died through t he city, ehoii y faces and 
ivory teeth were to he seen on every hand. 

This day will long he remembered by us. not only from the 
wonders we saw ami the idea that we had reached Dixie, hut as the 
day on which Gen. Jefferson C. Davis shot ami killed lien. Nelson. 

The next day Buell's army began its march tor Perryville. 
The siu'ht of the pontoon bridge had been a wonder, hut the un- 
broken columns of infantry and artillery tilled us with amaze- 
ment. There is no wonder that rebels, who had never 1 n 

north of Mason and Dixon's line, should he surprised at the 
number of Yankees they saw. when we. being a portion of those 
same Yanks, could scarcely believe our eyes! We imagined that 
this army must certainly march Bragg 1 s army into Louisville, as pris- 
oners, within two days unless it should prove too fleet of toot, hut 
Perryville. though a Union victory, did not overstock our prisons. 

On the 1st of October Joel Briggs, of Squad I, received his 
discharge at Chicago. He had been thrown from a horse he was 
attempting to break to the saddle, and so injured as to unfit 
him for the service. He was our first man discharged; 

On the 2d we received orders to march with the army, and 
having struck tents and loaded baggage, lay waiting for the com- 
mand, ■"Forward." hut on the 3d the order was countermanded. 

On the Mli Michael Dempsey, our stable sergeant, died at 
Chicago. We all lamented his death, for he had endeared himself 
to all who had become acquainted with him. 

Now began daily drills in good earnest, ami what at first 
seemed sport soon hecaine a hore. We were unused to so warm a 
climate as that of Louisville, and to drill twice a day in the broiling 



22 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

sun was not particularly agreeable ; especially when the dust 
was so dense that when in the center of the column, one could not 
see its ends. But there was a spirit of competition between the 
different squads and sections to see which should be the best 
drilled. 

On the 4th Morrill was discharged for disability at Camp 
Douglas, and on the 6th. Corporals Hansell and Judd. and Privates 
CVToole and Quimby arrived from Chicago, where they had been 
left sick. Accompanying them was a surgeon for the Battery, Dr. 
Wm. T. Kirk. 

Gen. J. S. Jackson was buried on the 11th, and our right sec- 
tion was sent as a part- of the funeral escort. 

By this time we were beginning to form some acquaintances, 
and the choir of the camp would occasionally serenade a partic- 
ular friend of an evening. Once in a while a "stag" dance would 
be held on the broad pavement near our camp, and within the 
friendly light of the nearest street lamp. Being in a sparse^ in- 
habited part of the city we disturbed no one — the more so as we 
never extended our dance till a late hour. At our dances the man, 
who was to act as lady, placed his hat on the side of his head in a 
very bewitching ( ? ) manner, that he might be distinguished and 
respected as one of the gentler sex. 

On the 14th we marched through the city with our guns, 
creating no particular sensation. 

On the 18th Sidney Briggs was appointed second bugler. 

On the 19th we again received orders to march, and packed 
up, ready to move, but we were again told to unpack and remain 
where we were. 

On the 20th the paymaster visited us. We were all aglee as 
soon as it was known he was present, for few had brought more 
money with them from home than would last a month, as we had 
expected our pay every day. But great was our chagrin upon 
learning that he had only come to pay those who enlisted prior to 
August 1st, and up to that date only. 

Our Captain did all in his power for the welfare of the men. 
and to keep the Battery in the best condition, but left the drilling 
almost entirely to Lieutenant Spencer. The city was in a constant 
state of excitement, as the guerrilla. John Morgan, was reported 
in the vicinity. ( m the eve of the 23d a few shots were heard on 
the Bardstown road, which passed near our cam]), and at the edge 



KENTUCKY ( LMPAIGN. 23 

of some woods about half a mile distant. This must be rebels, 
ami soon tin- camp was aroused. "Cannoneers, to your posts," 
shouted our Captain. " Harness and hitch up," yelled Lieut. 
Colvin ; but Lieut. Spencer, who was ever cool, said, " Don't be 
in a hurry, boys, let's sec what's the matter." The guns were 
quickly unlimbered and pointed in the direction of the noise, 
and one corporal, who was known as " Mother," asked the Captain 
what kind of shot we should give them in case they did appear. 
"Give them It I. was the answer. A few now started out to 
meet the audacious foe, and found that a few cavalry scouts m 
returning had discharged their pieces with the purpose of scaring 
the civilian inhabitants of a house of which they were inmates, 
Of course, we had many a hearty laugh over that scare. 

On the next day an event occurred that can uever be recalled 
by lis without a shudder. A few days previous Lieut. Colvin had 
detached his section from the others for the purpose of especially 
drilling on the double quick. This day a very loud report was 
heard in their direction, and it was supposed they were firing 
blanks, hut on looking, we saw a dense smoke rilled with pieces of 
bodies of men and parts of a caisson. The limber-chest of No. 5 
caisson, containing about sixty pounds of powder, had exploded. 
Kelleruian and Grerbert were sitting on the chest, which exploded, 
and were thrown high into the air. the former being torn in pieces, 
and the latter died by the time he reached the hospital. Corporal 
Brumfield ami Private- Zanger ami Aldrich were sitting on the 
caisson body, and were thrown backward over the spare wheel to 
the ground, being very badly burned, the two latter, each losing 
an eve. while the former was so crippled that he partly lost 
the use of his right hand, and was otherwise badly injured. 
Young, the wheel-driver, received a painful wound from a splinter, 
ami Lieut. Colvin was slightly injured by a fall from his horse. 

The cause of thi> catastrophe was never fully known, hut the 
probable cause was soon discovered the friction-primer boxes hail 
been emptied to he used to put salt, pepper, etc.. in. while the friction 
primers were allowed to lie around loosely in the trays id' the 
chest, ami some of them had worked through the thumb holes, and 

were fou ml a i g the shells, as was discovered by exam mum' other 

chests. It is i lie-- to say that thereafter we were careful in 

that respect, and seldom did we ride over rough roads or on the 
gallop without thinking what was under us. and what a slender 



24 BATTERY M. FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

thread kept us from eternity. For some time after this we were 
so careful that a lighted cigar or pipe would not be allowed within 
two rods of the caissons, and a constant guard was kept on all sides 
of the park, that no thoughtless person or wicked foe could ap- 
proach near enough to do any damage. 

Setzer was discharged this day, October 24th, lessening our 
number one more. At night considerable snow fell, the first we 
had seen that season. As it was quite cold, it behooved us, next 
day. to stir ourselves in making our quarters comfortable. We 
had Sibley tents, and sixteen men were allotted to each. The 
Captain tried to draw some stoves for our tents, but he could only 
get four or five. We immediately built fire-places of all forms, 
sizes and materials, and we were soon being well smoked, though 
warmed but little. We continued to improve on our first efforts 
till, as warm weather returned, we had some quite good heaters. 

On the 26th Jean Martine, aged 28, enlisted. We were by 
this time such thorough soldiers that we imagined that whatever 
we found iu Dixie was ours if we wanted it, and could get it. so that 
chickens, pigs, geese, vegetables, etc., were brought into camp and 
supplemented our rations. Many cows would come around our 
horses to help them eat their grain, and we always drove them 
away (after we had milked them). One night the Corporal of the 
guard was wanted by one of the sentinels. He ran to see what the 
matter was, saying as he approached, " What did you want to call 
me for just then? I was milking a splendid cow." And looking 
around, found the Captain by his side w r aiting to be passed by the 
guard! It was laughed off. and never after did our officers see a 
hog shot or anything else done in the forage line, for they would 
always about face and enter their tents. 

About this time there were two additions to the Battery that 
became favorites and remained with us throughout. The first was 
an octoroon boy, aged about eighteen, whose name was William 
Burgess, but was by some mistake known on the Company books 
as William West. The second was a little dog we styled " Battery." 
or " Douglas." At first he was driven from camp, but he followed 
Martine to camp one day. and was allowed to remain thereafter, 
and soon became the pet of all. Bill, as we called the man, began 
to cook for No. 3 detachment. He had just escaped from a prison. 
where he had been seut by some Kentucky slave-driver because he 
attempted to drive a Government team across to Jeffersonville. 



KKNTl'i !\V < WIl'AK.N. 25 

Although we foraged so much, and thereby gave cause for 
many complaints, yet we made man\ friends, and our invalids were 
well supplied with luxuries from houses near by, whose owners 
• ■veil asked and received several of them to their homes that they 
might nourish and care for them. Among those who were thus 
cared for was Lieut. Colvin, who, mi the 1th of November, had 
sufficiently recovered to be able to start for his home ou a leave. 

On the 5th Thomas Burton, our Senior Second Lieutenant 
promoted from gunner in Battery A. First Illinois Artillery 
arrived from Chicago, and with him Clancy and Westendorf. His 
rank placed him in command of the center section, which till then 
had had no commissioned officer. 

On the 7th Bela 11. Flusky joined us: he was promoted from 
gunner in Battery B, First Illinois Artillery, to Junior Second 
Lieutenant in our Batten r . His rank made him Chief of Caissons 
and Battery Quartermaster. These two officers soon became 
favorites, and were looked upon as real lions in the art of war, for 
the\ bad already seen service at Fori Donelson, Belmont and Shiloh. 

On the 9th Charles Cope, of Joliet, Illinois, aged 19, enlisted 
at ( !hicago. 



CHAPTER III. 



Complaints continued to be sent into Headquarters against 
the troops garrisoning the city, and conspicuous among the delin- 
quents was the name of " Battery M." At least, on the morning 
of November 11th, says Capt. Miller, one of Gen. Boyle's staff en- 
tered the General's office saying, " General, you will have to do 
something with that Battery, for there are too many complaints being 
entered against it." " I will do with it," said the General, and 
immediately he wrote an order for us to report forthwith at 
Lebanon. "D — n my men," the Captain afterwards used to say 
when speaking of it. " If they'd only quit foraging, we might 
have remained there" — at Louisville. Although we were con- 
tented there, yet all relished the idea of a move, and feared that if 
we did not soon meet the rebels we should return home without 
having had a light. Some of our men were out in the country 
hunting this day (November 11th) and Trumbull accidentally 
shot Coslett in the thigh with his revolver. He was left at the 
hospital. 

As the center section was the only one commanded by an 
officer who had seen service, it was started in the lead, ami loaded 
on a train of flat and box cars that night and started at seven the 
next morning. On this trip we saw the first real results of war. 
At Salt River, nineteen miles from Louisville, were the yet smok- 
ing ruins of the bridge that John Morgan had burned. Next 
Bardstown Junction was a smouldering pile of ashes. All this was 
new and interesting to us, but the stockades passed were even 
greater curiosities. At length we reached Chicago, and found it to 
contain four houses in addition to the depot shanty ! 

The center section reached Lebanon at noon ; sixty-seven 
miles from Louisville. They unloaded, marched about a mile 
northeast, and camped with the infantry. No rebels were near. 



KENTUCKY CAMPAIGN. '!', 

Thf nit'ii suffered much thai night, as it was their firsl night with- 
out shelter, and the ground was white with frost. Water could 
not be had within less than three-fourths of a mile. 

The Brigade they joined was the 34th, of the LOtli Division, 
Army of the Ohio, and consisted of the 50th, 98th and L21st Ohio, 
and the s 'ith Indiana, and was commanded by Col. W. P. Reid, of 
the 121st Ohio. The Division was commanded by Gen. Gilbert. 
On this day KaiitTinan and .). < '. Stewart received their discharges. 

On the 13th the Brigade moved out at 5 A. M. It was the 
-i ia si mi for chestnuts, walnuts, persimmons, etc., and, as there was an 
abundance of each in thai quarter, all feasted upon these luxur- 
ies. A.t night the Brigade camped near Newmarket, nine miles south 
of Lebanon. The right section, under Lieut. Spencer, started in 
the morning from Lebanon, and caught up with the Brigade about 
10 P. M. Next morning the two sections were off at an early 
hour, and pitched tents a few rods south of Campbellsville. This 
was a rich district, and the boys were -nun enjoying its luxuries. 
At a rebel's, near by, they found an abundance of chickens, pota- 
toes and apples. These latter, in great quantities, were soon 
squeezed through a cider press found on the place, and many more 
were taken to camp. We had marched twenty-one miles, yet were 
not so fatigued but that we could travel several miles more for 
forage. Let it be remembered that such acts of confiscation were 
not then authorized, as was done later in the war. though uever in 
Kentucky, which was always deemed loyal (?). This day. the 
left section, under Lieut. Fluskey, the Captain also being with it. 
reached Lebanon, where it was ordered to remain until further 
orders. It was rumored that there were rebels ahead, so the Bri- 
gade marched at daylight the next morning, though it had Keen 
the intention to remain at Campbellsville three days, and we had 
made arrangements accordingly, having fitted up our tents com- 
fortably. We reached Columbia, forty miles from Lebanon, at 
night, and camped to the west of the town, posting guards all 
around tun- camp, in addition to the infantry guards that sur- 
rounded t he whole. 

The road from Lebanon to Columbia was a well macadamized 
pike. The country is very hilly, the crossing ot Muldraugh's Hill 
is a tortuous road and so steep as to make it quite an undertaking. 
The south hank of the Green River is also a high, rocky hill, and 
even harder to ascend than MuldrauglTs. Water was not often 



28 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

found on this road, and it was really a great treat whenever we came 
to a good spring. The whole distance was heavily wooded except 
where it had been cleared for farms. 

We found Columbia to be a hot-bed of secession, and were not 
long in coming to a conclusion as to what should be our course of 
action toward its denizens. Camp duties were immediately insti- 
tuted, and soon all was running smoothly. There were many 
caves in the neighborhood, and one — Daniel Boone's — was often 
visited by us, to explore its meandering caverns. Tobacco, the 
soldiers panacea for all pains and griefs, could be found in almost 
any field, and all we had to do was to pick it ourselves. This 
natural leaf, however, was a little too strong, and we soon tired of 
it. but no better could be had, for that got of the citizens was only 
the same, twisted into "pig-tails." 

On the 20th Gen. Gilbert ordered the left section to move up, 
and it reached us on the 22d. Lieut. Colvin returned soon after. 

All was quiet, though a constant watch was maintained to 
guard against any surprise from the rebels. 

On the 27th the camp was greatly excited over orders received 
to march a section to Millersville, about fourteen miles south of 
Columbia, to check Morgan, who was thought to be advancing 
from that direction. The center section was chosen. It started 
at noon, escorted by twenty-live men of Company A, 9th 
Kentucky Cavalry, commanded by Capt. Harney. They found the 
roads very rocky, tortuous and densely wooded nearly the entire 
distance on both sides. However, at dusk, they reached the place. 
What a scene met their eyes ! For once they had full chance to 
take in an entire town at one glance, for this one consisted of but two 
houses and a stable. Learning that no rebels were in sight, they 
camped in an apple orchard. The men found lodgings as best they 
could, some at the houses, some in the old log stable, and some at 
a straw stack half a mile distant. Those doing guard duty faith- 
fully watched the fire in the stable, and would relieve themselves 
every two hours by calling the next relief. At eight o'clock, the 
next morning, one of the cavalry fired off his carbine : to punish 
him he was sent to the forks of the road to halt all citizens as they 
passed. This was the amount of picketing done on that expedition, 
and is a good illustration of the loose, unsoldierly methods in vogue 
in this department at that stage of the war. and will account for 
many of the minor successes achieved by the rebel forces — after 



KENTUCKY CAMPAIGN. '.".' 

another year bad passed, officers and men had learned the task 
of soldiering much better, and picket duty bad ceased to be nom- 
inal. 

A.bout noon the expedition started on it- return, reached camp 
at dark, and after shivering in the cold for aboui an hour, parked 
and unhitched. Gen. Gilbert arrived that day. and preparations 
were made to salute him, but the salute was deferred, as he 
brought word thai Morgan was near, and at t:30 A. M.. the next 
day, all were called to the guns to he ready to receive the enemy. 
\\ e stood iii the cold until daylight, when we were allowed to go 
to our quarters. 

All was again quiet, and. to enliven the dullness of camp, we 
would get the negroes to '"pa! Juba," and to dance regular hoe- 
downs for us nearly every night. On the ith of December, it 
having been decided to go into winter quarters, we moved through 
town and about half a mile north, to the north hank of Russell's 
Creek, and went into regular camp, naming it Camp Gilbert. On 
the 5th, before we were well prepared, about four inches of snow fell. 
On the 7th Dr. Kirk. E. <i. Thompson. Hendershot, Drake and T. 
S. Baker joined us from the hospital, and on the 8th John Howard 
and Fuller came. 

On the loth we again began firing blanks to accustom the 
horses to the noise. At noon a stall' officer came into camp and 
ordered all negroes, who were not t< . to leave and return to 

their masters. This cause 1 great excitement among us. for we 
had some cooking for us, who were from Tennessee, and with whom 
we were loath to part. Prominent among these was Bill; with 
him we would not part, and so the only alternative was to have 
him drive a team, which was accordingly assigned to him. 

On the 12th we had an inspect ion. and tired t he first shot from 
our guns, bj practicing at a target set on the side of a high, almost 
perpendicular hill, and at a distance of 1,000 yards. One shot went 
high above the trees on top of the hill, ami was never more heard 
of. hut i< supposed to have struck somewhere near the Mississippi. 

Ahout this time Gen. Boyle telegraphed the post that it would 
be attacked within ten days, so we immediately commenced to I mill I 
a fort, which, by the aid of the infantry, was completed by the 
21st, hut which, iii the light of our subsequent experience in fort 
building, can not he considered a very formidable work. 



30 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

On the 19th we felt so impregnable in our fortified position 
that Squad 1 began building a log shanty to live in ; but alas, on 
the 21st, when the shanty was about completed, orders were 
received to move in the direction of Lebanon, where Morgan was 
supposed to be. Sergt. Irwin, of Squad 2, left camp in the after- 
noon, and was never more seen in the Battery ; he was considered 
a deserter, but claimed to have been captured by the enemy and 
paroled. 



< 11 MTKII IV 



On the 22d of December all were up at :'> A. .M.. and soon had 
everything ready for the march. At day-break the Brigade started, 
a portion of the 6th Kentucky Cavalry acting as advance. We 
reached Campbellsville at dark, and camped near our old quarters. 
In the morning orders were received to resume the march, but 
these were soon countermanded with the injunction : "To be ready 
to march at a minute's warning." On Christmas we had fine 
times for soldiers. For edibles we had turkeys, geese, chickens 
and mutton as meats, and sweet potatoes, Irish potatoes and apples 
as vegetables and desert, while fur drinkables there was an abun- 
dance of peach brandy, apple jack and corn-ketchup. In fact, we 
had everything good thai the country afforded, and that, too, 
served in the best camp manner. The next day was. one of gloom, 
for Leroy II. Barnes, id' Squad 6, who had been sick for sometime, 
died ,-it } A. M.. id' typhoid fever. We buried him in the grave- 
yard with military honors. The day was very dull, there being a 
constant, chilly, drizzly rain falling. 

On the 26th Lieut. Colvin and Corporals Judd, id' Squad t. 
and Brown, of Squad 6, were ordered to report at Mumfordsville 
on detached duty. At I A. M.. of the "iTth. the troops were called 
out into line of battle, a- Morgan was expected. He came not ; so 

at nO( n the *jSt h the center section and the 80th Indiana were 

Sent to Muldrauu'h's Hill, which they reached at uight. A scout 

Mill out. reported a camp of rebels within three miles. All com- 
munications with Louisville were cut. as Morgan was reallj be- 
tween ii- and there. On the 29th the Battery and Brigade left 
Campbellsville, and at 9 I'. M., the center section proceeded to 
Lebanon, eleven miles distant, ami reached there at '1 A. M. At 
daylight the rot of the Brigade arrived. Here was found a con- 
siderable force of the Kentucky troops, and all felt confident we 



32 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

could bag Johnny very easily. After ten or twelve hours of weary 
waiting for orders the Battery went into camp on top of a bleak 
hill, taking great care to get oar tents in neat order. It rained 
hard all day till just at night, when it turned cold and considerable 
snow fell. We had but just made ourselves comfortable in our 
tents when the left section was ordered out, with the 16th Kentucky 
Infantry and some Cavalry, to help guard a pass on the Springfield 
road, already held by the 6th Kentucky Cavalry. They built fires, 
but immediately had to extinguish them that the rebels, whose 
camp fires were in plain sight, might not see them. Thus, the 
Johnnies enjoyed good, warm fires, while our men had to keep them- 
selves warm by walking. But the rebels built larger fires than they 
needed to warm themselves, for they wanted such as would burn till 
they could gain the bridge across the Rolling Fork of Salt River, 
about three-quarters of a mile southwest of Newmarket. This 
they effectually did, and then took their time for further action. 
We, at camp, stayed up till 11 P. M., cooking rations for the march. 
This great hubbub for marching was dispensed with thereafter. 
In official circles there was now a great battle going on. After 
it had been discovered that Morgan had escaped, the Colonel, who 
thought he commanded, ordered pursuit. Soon comes an order 
from some other Colonel, who could produce an older commission, 
and the column must halt till he can form his plans. These 
formed and ready for promulgation, up steps another, who has still 
better claims to supremacy. At last, after we had lain still nearly 
all day, Colonel Hoskins was acknowledged the rightful com- 
mander, and the Brigade moved forward. The wagons were un- 
loaded of baggage and crowded full of infantry, that the whole 
force might be kept closed up with the cavalry. The 16th Ken- 
tuck)' Infantry were detailed to support us, and they refused to be 
loaded into wagons, but manfully kept up with us whether on the 
gallop or at the halt — for it was by many such hitches we moved. 
There were a number of rebel prisoners brought in just before 
dark. This niade us still confident of success. At 11 P. M.. we 
came up with the rebel picket near Newmarket. This had been 
accomplished notwithstanding the many halts there had been on 
account of the wagons and harness breaking ; for whenever any- 
thing broke the whole column had to halt. If no more had been 
gained we had made such a noise as to keep Morgan, who was 
moving on a parallel road, well posted as to our progress. 



k k Nil < k\ c wii'Aii.N. :l: , 1 

[mmediately on coming upon the rebel vedettes a ball was 
ordered and a council of wai called. All the Colonels mel at a 
neighboring house all save 1 [allersj . of the 6th Kentucky < lavalry, 
who was killed in the advance. All these plans finally culminated 
in one daring program, the first part of which was to order ;ill to 
rest. The night was intensely cold, and no fires were allowed. 
We laid down in fence corners, hut soon had to rise and walk for 
exercise, otherwise we should have frozen. Noiselessly we watched 
the old year die. and could scarcely hear the new one wish ns a 
•' I fappy New Year."' 

Private Gillette, who had succeeded Clute as A.cting Orderly 
Sergeant, was promoted from this dav to that office. 

A little after s'lurisc. on I h i m >rning o£ J muary 1st, L863, we 
began to "feel" for the Johnnies, and found they were alread} Ear 
ahead of us. and were in full p >ssession of Muldraugh's Hill, some 
three miles distant, their last wagon having got out of sight before 
our commander thought of moving. Great was our chagrin over this 
disappointment, for we had expected to capture them here. "Joe" 
had said, "the bag will be sure to have a hole in it." and so it was 
discovered. Hut there was this poor consolation Morgan had an- 
nounced that he would eai his dinner this day in Lebanon or in 
h 1. and now if lie had any dinner it must he on the flight. But 
the flight part was not so certain, tor he held the hill. So. slowly 
the column moved on. up the hill we went, and no rebels were in 
sight. Glorious! The 16th Kentucky again had to exert it-elf to 

keep Up. for as soon as we reached the top of the hill it tlashed 

upon the mind of the leader that Morgan would hum Green River 
bridge uriless we were there in time to prevent it. We pushed on 
with all possible -peed. and. approaching Campbellsville, heard that 
he was yet ill town. The charge was ordered, and forward dashed 
the cavalry and artillery. The road was soon lined with blankets, 
kettle-, sabres, revolver-, and everything that could fly Loose ! En- 
tering the town, the Government stores were found burning, the 
streets were filled with cryin •: women and children, the store- were 
all gutted, and such things as could not he carried along had been 
thrown into the street. Morgan had been --one about an hour. 
and had pillaged the town before leaving. A few stragglers were 
caught at some of the houses. < hi we pushed, galloping wherever 
we could. The road was strewn with ribbons and gewgaws Mor- 
gan's men had stolen. When we reached a clearing about one 



34 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

mile from the bridge we saw it in smoking ruins. The right 
section immediately opened on the spot, firing sixteen shells. One 
of these struck near our cavalry, three in the bridge, two in the 
palisade on the road above, and the rest around in all directions, 
one going nearly half a mile further and wounding one of the 
rebels, who was left at a house near by, where we found him. We 
learned from prisoners that we had killed and wounded fourteen 
of their number. This, we thought, was doing well, but the 
bridge was burned, and so were two large cribs of corn, belonging 
to the Government, that were on the north side of the bridge. 
About sunset we went into camp to wait till the ford below the 
bridge could be rendered passable by removing some drift wood and 
cutting some trees on the bank. We immediately made prepara- 
tions for a good supper and some sleep ; we secured the former, 
but not the latter. We moved forward at 8:30, and marched by 
tits and starts in the Egyptian darkness till 4 A. M., when it was 
thought we were near enough to Columbia to postpone further 
progress until after sunrise. Corporal Short, of Squad 2, was pro- 
moted to Sergeant of the same, to date January 1st. and Cogswell, 
of Squad 1, to Corporal of same, to date January 1st. At 10 A. 
M., of the 2d, we entered Columbia, and found that Morgan had 
been gone about six hours. At this place he did no more than to 
parole a few sick prisoners whom he had left there. Along the 
whole road we had chased him he had taken all the good horses 
he could find, and whenever one of his horses became jaded he had 
turned it loose. After leaving Columbia he was so hard pressed in 
order to keep out of the way of Wolford, who had now joined us, 
that he was forced to burn some of his wagons that they might 
not fall into our hands. Wolford, with his cavalry, continued 
the chase, but we camped at our first camp grounds, and in 
the afternoon moved to Camp Gilbert. But it was finally con- 
cluded that Morgan could be overtaken before reaching the 
Cumberland, at Burksville, and thus prevent his crossing into 
Tennessee, so, at dark we moved out on the road toward that 
place. The Battery had hard work to ascend some very steep 
hills, and had gone about six miles when we met Wolford's 
cavalry returning. When we became aware of the force Wolford 
had, and knowing the spider's position he had occupied in 
relation to Morgan, all marveled that he should have allowed 
him to escape. 



KENTUCKY CAMPAIGN. 35 

We returned to camp at 10 P. M., and were glad to be allowed 
once more to Lie quietly down and sleep. The raiD was steadily 
falling, l>ut soon our eyes were closed, not to be opened till long 
after sunrise the nexl morning. In addition to the Eatigue en- 
dured during our campaign, there had been very little to eal dor 
men or horses, having had but one good meal since the 30th nit. 

Next morning, after having eaten what was to be had for 
breakfast, we started at nine on our return to < lampbellsville, which 
was reached at 8 P. M. : it rained hard all day and uighi and the 
uexl day. Little ** Battery 1 ' suffered quite as much as the men on 
this campaign, but early in the march he had learned to jump 
upon the caissons and ride whenever he became tired. On the 4th 
all were ready to resume the march, when orders came to unhitch 
and unharness. Our tents and baggage, which had been left at 
Lebanon, were sent for; Lieut. Fluskey going in person in order to 
expedite their arrival. Thus ended our chase after John Morgan. 



CHAPTER V. 



Although Morgan had been driven from the State, there re- 
mained one quite his equal to keep us on the alert. At 3 A. M., of 
January 5th, we noiselessly hitched up, no one being allowed to 
speak a loud word. " Make no noise, boys, for Forrest is expected in 
before light, 1 ' were the instructions received. We took position on 
a hill that commanded the road for some distance south, and lay 
there till about 3 P. M., and till noon were not allowed to go to 
camp, about three quarters of a mile, for something to eat. About 
1 P. M., rations were hauled to us where we lay, Drake acting as 
Quartermaster Sergeant. In the afternoon the baggage train 
arrived and reported that there was no such thing as an armed rebel 
within fifty miles. 

At an early hour on the 6th we were ready to march. No 
one knew where we were going, save those in command, and we 
soon began to doubt whether they did, for after going out, not 
more than three miles, we were lost. We lay where the discovery 
was made until the right road had been found, when the column 
moved on and camped at night on the Summerville road, twelve 
miles from Campbellsville. The country through which we passed 
on this march was the best we found in Kentucky, and we enjoyed 
it in proportion to its qualities. 

By daylight of the 7th the troops were ready to start. We 
now left that road and took old, abandoned roads bearing to the 
north, and camped at night near Brush Creek, having made 
about twelve miles. On the way, while passing between trees, the 
splinter-bar of No. 3 gun was broken, which delayed us for some 
time. Some bee gums were found during the day, whose contents 
sweetened our evening repast. Our camps were usually upon the 
highest and most open ground to be found, which, of course, made 
the carrying of water, wood, etc., laborious ; but this time our 
cam}) was in a beautiful valley within fifty feet of a clear stream. 



KENTUCKY CAMPAIGN. 31 

and with fences excellent fuel all around us, while a -tack of 
o;it straw near by furnished us soft beds. On the 8th the Brigade 

ved al 7:30 traveling nearly all da\ in the valley of the creek, 

crossing ii many times. \t 3 P. M. we struck the Louisville and 
Nashville pike. It rained^cold and drizzly all the afternoon. After 
traveling about eighteen miles we camped near the south fork of 
Nolan's Creek. On the 9th wewereoffbj 8, al noon again crossed 
Muldraugh's Hill, and thru filed through Knob Creek Valley, a 
large and beautiful valley, bordered on both sides l>\ high lulls. 
Crossing the Rolling Fork on a covered bridge, which the bullets 
from a neighboring stockade prevented Morgan from burning, and 
marching through New Haven, camped about three-quarters of a 
mile south of it at 3 P. M.. having conic twelve miles. The Bat- 
ten went into regular camp in a pleasant spot on a beautiful knoll. 
Although, as before stated. Morgan had tailed to burn the bridge 
on which we crossed, he had beei re successful with the rail- 
road bridge near by. He tried repeatedly to force the inmates of 
the stockade and block-house to surrender, but without effect. His 
Jack-ass battery was brought to hear on it and within a very few 
rods, but the bold occupants the 78th Illinois soon lessened the 
number of his cannoneers so much that they were glad to with- 
draw. 

Now. being in permanent camp for at least a week, we felt the 
want of money, and more so. as we were quite reduced in necessary 
comforts. It had been rumored that we would receive our pay as 
soon as we reached our destination, and we eagerly watched each 
day for the paymaster. Closely we scrutinized each gold-braided 

pair of pants to see if its pockets were not tilled with paper for 

us. [n the absence of money we would draw clothing and sell it 
for double what the Government charged, and those who were so 
inclined, found the means to buy whatever they most needed. At 
a monastery near by excellent bread could he bought at reasonable 

prices. 

On the 11th our cheese knives were turned over to the care of 
our uncle Samuel, and we doubt whether Bunyan's Pilgrim felt 
more relief at the falling off of his load of -in than did we when 
no longer burdened with those detested -word bayonets. 

On the 12th Lieut. Colvin arrived from Louisville, en-route 
for Mumfordsville. He had with him a battery of three ten-pound 
Rodman guns that were worn out and the spokes and poles gnawed 



38 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

nearly in two by the hungry horses that were always picketed to 
them. The battery was manned by men from nearly as many 
commands as there were men. They were convalescents from the 
hospitals, and thus the battery was styled, " Colvin's Quinine Bat- 
tery." Lieut. Colvin's command of this battery was only tempora- 
ry, and it reflected no discredit upon him. That day Capt. Miller, 
Lieut. Fluskey, and Privates Joseph Hunt, Carlos Hunt and Thos. 
Peters started for Louisville to get some fresh horses for the Bat- 
tery. They took all the " crow-baits" with them. 

It rained all the night of the 13th, all the 14th, and till about 
midnight, when it began to snow and continued till 9 A. M. of the 
15th, when over fifteen inches had fallen. What a scene presented 
itself in the morning as we knocked the snow from our tent flaps 
and looked forth. Tent No. 7. or " Guard-house Cadets" — alias 
''Ring-tail Roarers," — was nowhere to be seen. What had become 
of it? Where had its jolly occupants gone? No one could tell 
till, in walking over the spot where it had stood, a movement was 
felt underfoot, and a sepulchral voice was heard to order us away. 
Then there was a general upheaval of the snow for the space of 
a tent, and soon out crawled one. then another and another, till 
all were in the outer world. They came forth covered with per- 
spiration, for it was uncomfortably warm under that snow cover- 
ing. Soon their story was told. Their tent pole had broken in 
the night by the weight of the snow ; they lay still, and were 
soon hidden from view. This tent was where all the wide-awake 
and jolly boys of the company congregated. It was by far the 
most noted tent of the camp. Never did such a thing as a quarrel 
originate in it. 

This great fall of snow was followed by rain, and the streams 
were soon so swollen as to carry away several bridges between us and 
Louisville, thus depriving us of our mails — a luxury that the sol- 
dier longs for. next to honorable discharge at the close of his term. 

While lying here we saw a Chicago paper that purported to 
give a description in one of its articles of our chase after Morgan. 
and concluded that either the writer or we must be. greatly mis- 
taken, for we agreed only on one point — that Morgan had been 
chased. 

By the 17th official documents had found their way through, 
and among them came a report of Farrell's trial and sentence. He 
was to work on the levee three months, lose all pay, and then be 



KENTUCKY CAMPAIGN. 39 

drummed out of camp. His offense was having threatened those 
in command over him and the commission of other " acts unbecom- 
ing a soldier." On the 19th the Captain returned, and with him 
Coslett, nearly recovered Prom his wound. It rained hard all thai 
night and the next day, and then thawed so rapidly as to soon make 
the roads quite impassable. 

On tlic 21st orders were received to move, and before light the 
next morning all wen- ready. Our destination was to Louisville 
l>\ rail. The place where the train was to be loaded was about 
three-quarters of a mile away, but on account of the very bad 
roads, we had to go over three miles around, and then had hard 
work to reach the depot. It was raining and was quitecold, vet by 
6 P. M., the Battery was loaded and started. A large mail was 
distributed just before leaving. The train sped swiftly on till 
reaching Bardstown Junction ; here it was learned that the con- 
ductor had been left at Lebanon Junction, and back the engine 
went after him, being delayed only an hour, and reached Louis- 
ville, forty-five miles from New Haven, at 10:30 P. M. The men 
slept wherever room could he found to lie. and the next morning 
unloaded the battery, marched to Preston's woods, east of the city, 
and camped. In the afternoon Brunifield, Mercer and Premer 
joined us from the hospital. It rained hard all day and was quite 
cold, making it very unpleasant, though by night we had some 
wood hauled, and were able to cook and keep warm. We now 
expected to see the paymaster and could not imagine what reason 
there could be for further delay. On the 24th we were ordered 

out for inspection, hut there was none. In the aften u our 

wagons, that had been scut around by land, arrived. On the 25th 
Quartermaster Sergeant Murphy arrived from home, he having 
been sick since before we left Camp Douglas. 

< >n t he 26th the 50th Ohio was sent to some other command; 
and the 78th Illinois, the first Illinois troops we were associated 
with, joined our Brigade. 

A Id rich was tin- day discharged on account of injuries received 
by the caisson explosion. The friends with whom we had parted. 
when starting for Lebanon, were -till here, and a- warm hearted as 
ever; as long as we would accept we could not want, for they 

ottered and insisted ur taking money, etc., that might make us 

comfortable. A- a consequence of this state of affairs, those who 
were -(. inclined, had all they wished to drink, and when, on the 



40 



BATTERY M. FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 



28th. orders were received to 'go aboard a boat, preparatory to leav- 
ing for some unknown place, there were many who decidedly 
refused to go until they had received their pay. Our Captain, 
whose ideas of military discipline were rather lax. while urging us 
to comply, acknowledged that we ought to be paid before °our 
departure. 



PART II. 

Chickamauga Canppaigp. 



CHAITKi; VI. 



W'i: left camp at LO A. M.. on the 29th of January, and by 8 
P. M.. had all <>ur guns, caissons, wagons, mules, horses and bag- 
gage <»n board the steamer .lames Thompson. This was a new 
boat, and had been built'for a terry. It had a small cabin aft : 
this was HI led with grain and hay, so the men took quarters on the 
hurricane deck, the boiler deck, around the boiler in tact any 
place where room could be found to lie down. A Long, crib-looking 
stove had been put up near the "donkey," and on this our cooking 
was done. The guns and horses were packed at the bow of the 
boat, the wagons placed on the hurricane deck, and the mule- at 
the stern of the boat. 

The question, "Where are we going?' 1 was now asked, time 
and again, and yet uo definite answer. Some thought we were 
going to aid Grant in the reduction of Vicksburg ; others 
thought we were going to Missouri or to Memphis ; and some that 
it was to join Rosecrans. Our horses were becoming poor, and 
being so crowded, began to die off. ( )n the 31st, before Leaving, we 
witnessed one of the horrors of slavery. A negro attempted to 
get on a ferry boat to cross into Indiana. A policeman stopped 
him, and in the melee the negro was shot and soon alter died \t 
•*) I'. M. we cut Loose, and steaming nearly over to Jeffersonville, 
turned our how slowly down stream and to Portland, where there 
were many boats Lying readj to start. The nighl was clem- and 

calm, and was enjoyed with a regular stag dam-' a coal barge 

that lay alongside. 

At 6:30 A. M.. on the 1st of February, we went sailing down 
the Ohio on a steamboat. While other boats had guards posted to 
allow no one to g i shore, wherever the} -topped, we were per- 
mitted to go where we pleased. We reached Cannelton, Indiana, 

at 5 I'. M., and soon were once mor i free soil. Some ol us 

took a stroll over the town and then returned on hoard. Cannelton 



44 BATTERY M. FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

is about one hundred and twenty miles from Louisville. In the 
morning the boat steamed over to Hawesville, Kentucky, took on 
coal, and by eight o'clock we were again on our way. 

The Captain was quite sick the whole trip, so the command 
devolved upon Lieut. Spencer. On the way down the river we had 
an opportunity of noticing the vast difference that the width of a 
river makes in the condition of the country, as between a free and 
a slave State. 

At 7 P. M. we once more came in sight of the Prairie State, 
our home. How all longed to set foot on her soil, but we could 
not at this time, and could only turn a longing glance at what was 
not even the promised land — only the wished-for land. At mid- 
night we reached Smithland, three hundred and sixty-five miles 
from Louisville, and as we lay here some time, let us take a 
peep at the doings on board. The Captain of the boat, Thomas 
Gray, had a number of barrels of potatoes, some cheese, and also 
several boxes of brandy that was put in cans filled with apples. 
These articles he was smuggling through to Nashville, as he 
thought the $100 per day for the boat was insufficient. We dis- 
covered these articles, and knowing them to be contraband, forth- 
with put the (yet unpassed) confiscation act in force, and turned 
all such articles to our own especial use. We soon had potatoes,, 
ham, cheese, butter, etc., etc., to eat and the best of brandy to 
drink. The lock that guarded these articles was no impediment 
when u Slippery Sam" took charge of it. 

We were in the van of the fleet that consisted of the St. Pat- 
rick (flag ship), Jacob Strader, Tempest, R. B. Hamilton, New 
York, Venango, Victor No. 2, Leonora, Crescent City, Arizona, 
Charley Miller, Hornet, James Thompson, Victress, John H. Groes- 
beck, Odd Fellow, Cottage, Nashville, Express, Lady Franklin, 
Nymph, Turin, Diamond, McClellan, St. Cloud, Silver Lake No. 2, 
T. J. Patton, Capitola, Leslie Coombs, Poland, Ella Faber, Allen 
Collier, Champion, Bostona, Duke, Commercial, Ohio No. 3, Hori- 
zon, Wild Cat, Liberty No. 2, Shenango, R. E. Levi, Clara Poe, 
Hazel Dell, and a few others, whose names we did not learn, as 
transports. The gunboats, Fair Play (flag ship), the St. Clair, 
Lexington, Silver Lake, Brilliant, and one other, accompanied us 
as convoys. 

Here, as before stated, we had expected to receive our pay, 
but in the morning the officers learned, much to our disappointment 



CHICKAMAUQA CAMPAIGN. |.". 

and chagrin, that the paymaster had left in the night on his 
return to Louisville ! We were now certain as to our destination 
Nashville. Some of our number were on board other hunt- with 
acquaintances whom they had met, whileothers remained al Louis- 
ville, and, learning our destination, were at Nashville to inert us 
as we stepped on shore the\ having gone by the railroad thai had 
been opened only a few days before. 

At 3:40 P. M., of the 3d, we nit loose at Smithland and steal 1 

slowly up the Cumberland. The river was high, the current swift 
and the water full of driftwood, causing us to advance carefully 
as well as slowly. We were constantly on the alert for rebels, but 
our guns were in such condition as to be perfectly useless, as it 
would have required nearly half an hour to get them into position 
to use them. As we started, and for some time afterwards, we 
could hear distant cannonading, and could attribute it to nothing 
but the engagement of the gunboats, that had preceded us. with 
some rebels who were attempting to (heck our progress, and ex- 
pected, if such was the case, to soon have a taste of - e shore 

battery, which, in our penned-up position, would have been any- 
thing hut agreeable. Toward morning we passed a burning barge 
that the rebels had sent down to bum the fleet, hut all passed it 
without any damage. 

We reached hover at 5 A. M. It is a village of about 150 
inhabitants, and is about a mile above Fort Donelson and on the 
same side id' the river. It is seventy-five miles above Smithland. 
We made fast to the north shore, opposite. The cannonading 
heard was at this place, between the garrison ami one of the gun- 
boats on one side, and Forrest on the other. Soon all the canoes 
and skiffs t<> he found were engaged in ferrying us over, and it was 
learned that Col. Hardin, with a portion of the 83d Illinois, num- 
bering >>'\r\\ hundred men. ami Battery <'. of the 2d Illinois, with 
tour light and two siege guns, and also a few cavalry, had not 
only held the place, but had driven awa\ Forrest and fourthousand 
cavalry and artillery, killing many and capturing a number, his 
own loss being very small. One id' our gunboats had reached 
there in time to engage in the last act. and killed about hun- 
dred rebels as they were retreating. Our force buried two hundred 
rebels and only sixteen id' our men ! It appeared from the face ot 
the field that the enemy had driven our men out at one time, for on all 
parts of the ground could he seen dead rebels and dead rebel horses. 



46 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

One house was so perforated with ballet holes, on both sides, made as 
each party would alternately gain possession and drive the other 
out, that it much resembled the corn-graters we afterwards used 
in the army. In front of the siege-gun were two dead horses, side 
by side, and one dead rebel, while a short distance off was the body 
of the other rider. They had ridden up to the muzzle of the gun, 
and one said to the two men who were left at it, " l G-d d — n you, 
don't you know when to surrender?" "Yes," replied he who 
was gunner, as he fired the gun, and there lay the corpses, their 
bodies perfectly riddled with canister. Among the rebel dead was 
found the body of Col. (Acting Brig. Gen.) McNairy, the rebel, 
who had published in the Nashville papers, that he could drive 
every Yankee in Tennessee from the State with a few hundred 
hounds, and if they could not do it, he would arm the women with 
broomsticks and do it. 

Each man appeared to want something to remember this rebel 
by, and soon the buttons were cut from his coat for keepsakes. 
The rebels themselves had taken the time to strip their dead of 
shoes, etc. Among their dead were several who had been in town 
only a day or two before and had their oath of allegiance upon 
their persons. During the night reinforcements arrived from Fort 
Henry, the commander having heard the cannonading and thought 
they must be needed. Prisoners reported that Forrest would 
soon return, so we lay there till it was thought there was no 
further danger for the garrison, and took considerable ammunition 
from our chests to supply the light guns. We were mustered on 
the 5th by Capt. Stacy, (the first introduction we had to that 
gentleman) and it was found that about seventy were present. 
About this time Capt. Gray began to discover that the contents of 
his larder were materially lessening, and upon overhauling his 
potatoes and apples, found very few left to sell for their weight in 
money. Of course he dared not make a public fuss, but to make 
us think he would, he searched the boat and found only one can 
of apples. On the 5th Thomas Peters died at Louisville of measles. 

The night of the 4th it snowed cpuite hard, and the 5th was 
extremely cold. During the day the transports paired — i. e., they 
lashed together two by two. This was to protect them should they 
be attacked, for the troops on one could retreat to the lee one, and 
have the other as a breastwork. We lashed to the Venango. 
Steadily we stemmed the current on the 6th, having started at 10 



CHICKAMAUGA CAMPAIGN. 1". 

A. M. The day was pleasant ami the scenery most beautiful; for 
many of us, who had never been outside of the Prairie State, the 
scene was really grand, and the hurricane deck, which had been 
deserted the day before, was crowded. 

The shore varied from low, level swamps to high, perpendicular 
hills, almost mountains. Seven miles above Dover the ruins of 
the Cumberland Iron Works were passed. The rebels had burned 
them when the Union forces captured Fori Donelson. A little 
further is the residence of Johu Bell, he who in i860 wished to be 
elected to the highest office in the land, but who in 1861, was a 
leader among those who conspired to ruin that land. We passed 
Clarksville at 8:45 I'. M.. but it was too dark to see plainly the high 
bridge. At 7:30, on the 7th. the shoals were passed with great 
difficulty, as the water was getting low and the current was very 
sw it't. 

We reached the "Rock City, 11 two hundred and five miles 
from Smithland, at 4 P. M.. passing under the new Government 
railroad bridge, and lashed not far above. As we passed the 
prison where some rebels were confined, they shouted at us, calling 
some pretty hard names. 

Our guns, wagons and the remaining horses and mules weir 
unloaded in the forenoon of the 8th. The Captain, being too 
unwell to accompany us further, went to the hospital and never 
saw the Battery again. Lieut. Spencer was now our commander. 
On the 9th we unloaded our baggage and moved to Camp Andy 
Johnson, about two and a half miles southeast of the city, passing 
Forts Negley and Confiscation, which seemed to us quite impreg- 
nable. As Bill was driving his wagon along the street he met a 
man who said. " Why don't you get off from that mule and ride, 
and make that nigger drive?'* referring to one of darker hue who 
sat in the wagon. Bill thought it a good joke that he should be 
taken for a white man. It rained all day of the LOth. We received 
orders to march to Franklin the next day, but they were changed 
to have us leave on the 12th, at 6 A. M. 



CHAPTER VII. 



On the 12th of February reveille sounded at 4 and the troops 
moved in the direction of Franklin at 7. Orders were issued that 
knapsacks could be strapped on the carriages, but that the cannon- 
eers must walk. This was pronounced to be downright cruelty. 
We had never had to do it before, not even when traveling over 
poor roads, and this was an excellent macadamized pike. The 
infantry soon began throwing away their extra clothing. This 
was thought odd, having never seen anything of the kind before. 
At 3 P. M. it was rumored that there were rebels ahead and that 
our forces had left Franklin in the morning and the rebels had 
immediately occupied the place. Each gunner's haversack was 
supplied with three rounds to be ready for instant use. It was 
raining steadily at the time. The center section was ordered in 
advance ; it ran up within short range and brought its guns to 
bear on a large brick house, from which a shot had just been fired 
by one who was declared to be an officer of the day, for we saw his 
red sash very plainly. 

We were ordered not to fire, as our infantry had effected a 
crossing of the Harpeth River and were entering the town. But 
few shots were fired, the rebels not attempting to hold the place. 
The center section immediately moved to a hill on the left, and 
gun 3 fired two shots at the retreating foe. The Battery then 
camped on a hill, where Gen. Pry, deceased, had had a splendid 
residence ; the house had been burned some years before ; the 
grounds were beautifully laid out, the walks bordered with box- 
wood hedges, ornamental trees, etc. The ruins even, looked grand. 
Just at the brow of the hill was his tomb. 

Franklin is on the south bank of the Big Harpeth, eighteen 
miles south of Nashville, and contains about two thousand inhab- 
itants, nearly all rebels. 

Coming into this department placed us in the Army of the 
Cumberland and in the 14th Corps. On the 13th we were called 



• UK KAMAU.A CAMPAIGN. I'.l 

into line at an early hour to guard against surprise, and in the 
afternoon began regular drill, gun 3 firing the extra shot she had 
in from the day before. Our tent- were placed in regular align- 
ment, and orders were received to be in line at five o'clock everj 
morning. 

On the 14th we moved our tents to the top of the hill on the 
spot where the guns had first taken position. It rained hard nearly 
all day. At night three ot our men thought they would like to 
give their horses some hay. and at the same time take a little to 
keep themselves off the wet ground ; the} were caught in the act. 
Gen. Gilbert ordered them to be tied to trees, and the\ were kept 
there in the wet and cold till nearly eight o'clock at night. Tin- 
day .John Zanger was discharged id the hospital at Louisville. 
Several of our men were now taken siek with the measles. In the 
afternoon of the 15th the cavalry skirmished a little near by. 
Joseph B. Hunt. Stable Sergeant, was this day. while on duty 
among the horse-, kicked by a vicious horse and severely injured. 
On the 16th the Infantry began to fortify under the direction of 
('apt. Stacy, and the trains arrived from Nashville, which cheered 
us much, for with the gloomy weather, sickness and no mail, we 
had begun to feel discontented. As there was no bridge across the 
river, there was no way of reaching Franklin except by boats. 
This day the reconstruction of the railroad bridge was begun. 
On the 17th the mail came, and though old. was new to us and 
gave us much cheer. 

On the 17th we were ready betimes for the Johnnies, who were 
said to be 20,000 strong, within a few miles. At 10 A. M.. some 
infantry were prdered across a creek flowing from the north into 
the Harpeth. A few -hot- were tired, which caused the skirmishers 
to tall hack, hut the ground was held, for if there was au\ body of 
rebels near they made no further demonstrations. That night 
several rockets were sent up by citizens in Franklin, so the troops 
were in position long before daylight next morning, that they 
might not he caught napping. During the daj fortifying pro- 
gressed far more rapidly than before. On the 19th a few of our 
men were detailed to build a bridge aero-- a creek so a- to allow 

our tealll- to get to the depot. 

On the 20th gun 1 knocked down a large chimney that was a 
portion of the nun- <»f (ien. Pry's house. They used -olid shot; 
the first -hot passed through it. scarcely causing it to totter, the 



50 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

, second brought it to the ground. This was done because Gen. 
Gilbert considered it dangerous in case of an attack. 

On the 21st we moved camp a little north to more favor- 
able grounds, as we were now in the way of the ditchers. It rained 
very hard so that what had for some time been a saying was only 
again verified — i. e., " That we could move only when it rained. 11 
The roads that had for some time been so muddy as to be almost 
impassable, were, as a consequence, now much worse. The left 
and center sections drilled and fired two Wanks apiece. About 
noon, during the hardest rain, an alarm was given, and we had to 
hitch up in great haste ; it was reported that the rebels • were 
advancing and were already engaging our outposts. We could 
plainly hear the firing and really believed we were attacked. After 
getting thoroughly drenched we were relieved, being told that it 
was only a few pickets who had fired off their guns to keep the 
charges from getting wet and thus making their guns useless in 
case of an attack. Of course they had acted contrary to orders, but it 
was far better to be prepared than to be attacked and find them- 
selves with weapons that could not be used. The 22d was a cold, 
dreary day. It rained and then snowed. At noon we fired the 
National salute — thirty-four blanks. 

On the 23d six of thos*e who had objected to going on board 
at Louisville were told that they were under arrest on the charge 
of mutiny. They were restricted in nothing except duty — that 
they were not allowed to perform. Of course they did not object 
to this, as the weather was not agreeable to work in. At 10:30 
P. M. Watson Brailey died of measles. His death resulted from 
want of proper care. We had nothing that was really fit for 
healthy men, and could do little for invalids. 

On the 24th the Battery was relieved from working on the 
fortifications by a hundred or more negroes. This gave us much 
joy, but we had scarcely begun to rejoice before work was found 
for us on some interior works ! 

There were many who could find nothing better to amuse 
themselves with than circulating such sensational reports as these : 
" Vicksburg is taken ! 11 u A grand victory on the Potomac I 11 etc., 
etc. These rumors would spread like wild fire and would become 
the subject for general debate through all the camps. Though 
these canards always ended in disappointment to the credulous, yet 
they served to keep life in the camps. 



CHICK AMAUGA CAMPAIGN. J", 1 

At 1 P. M., of the 25th, the center section was sent out to 
receive any "gray hacks*' who mighl appear. There liad been 

some ca nading heard during the night. Ponl is to make a 

wagon bridge across the river came during the day. The railroad 
bridge was uearly completed, but the heavy rains had so swollen 
the stream that it washed the bridge away during the night and 
this day. Those who were under arrest were tried, except one, the 
( lorporal. 

The pontoons were completed on the 27th and t hen, l>\ getting 
the proper pass, we could visit the town. We moved camp a few 
rods north of the works. At 2 A. M., on the 28th, the long roll 
was beaten, and all were soon in line, but shortly unhitched and 
returned to hed. In the afternoon we had inspection and muster. 

On the 1st of March the pickets were drivenin; we hitched 
up in great haste, but our lines were recovered and quiet again 
reigned. This day our new detail on the fortifications began. 

On the 2d the men under arrest were included in the detail. 
In order to have a sufficient number of cannoneers in case of 
attack, several infantry were sent to be drilled on the guns. Dur- 
ing the night Coburn's Brigade arrived, and on the 3d we received 
sixteen men on permanent detail from the 78th Illinois. That 
night it froze quite hard, and snowed on the morning of the 4th. 
More troops having arrived. Coburn started in the direction of 
Columbia on a four days' foraging expedition. During the after- 
noon cannonading was heard in the direction he had taken, and 
the Battery was ordered to be ready to march, hut as all was quiet 
at night, we remained in camp. That night was quite cold. By 
noon of the 5th heavy cannonading was heard about, as we judged, 
six miles out. By 1 P. M.. all communications were cut with 
Coburn and couriers could not reach him. Gen. Gilbert very 
leisurely rode along and ordered us to be ready to move. We soon 
crossed the pontoon and lay in column of sections on the Hat near 
by until about 3 I'. M.. when we were ordered forward on the 
double quick. We went out to a pass through some hills about 
three miles from town; here we met ambulances loaded with 
wounded, all bringing word that the rebels were advancing. The 
lst|, Ohio Battery had returned some time before, not having been 
able, a- they said, to draw any reply from the rebel batteries on which 
they had tired, (iun t, of our Battery, took position in the gap, 
ami Linn 3 was placed on the knob'to the left, from which it could 



52 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

command the surrounding country. The left section was placed 
in position on the hill nearly a mile nearer the town, and was 
commanded by Lieut. Fluskey. We lay in our several positions till 
nearly dark, when, as the rebels did not appear to be advancing, 
the right and center sections were ordered to return to camp, but 
not so with the left ; they had received no orders, and long after 
all support was withdrawn, the Lieutenant sent a request to either 
have some support sent him or to be recalled. They were then, 
long after dark, ordered to camp. Many were the complaints 
raised against Gen. Gilbert for not having sent reinforcements 
sooner to Col. Coburn, who, with nearly his whole command, was 
captured. Van Dorn was the rebel commander. That night Gen. 
Gordon Granger arrived with two brigades and assumed command 
of the whole force on the 6th. Four of those under arrest were 
relieved. The railroad bridge was this day completed. The trains 
crossed and began unloading stores at the depot. It rained nearly 
all day. Troops continued to arrive and the beautiful forest that 
surrounded us began to fall under the pioneer's axe, so as to 
lengthen our range and to prevent the enemy's approach under 
its cover. The sick and wounded were sent to Nashville, and we 
predicted no longer an attack from the enemv, but an advance on 
our part. During the night we heard cannon in the direction of 
Murfreesboro, and learned next morning that some cavalry, crossing 
to Franklin, had surprised and captured nearly an entire cavalry 
camp of the foe. Sheridan's Division arrived to-day. Corp. Brown 
returned from detached duty. 



rHAITKIi' VIII. 



On th«' 9th of March reveille sounded at 2 A. M.. and by day- 
light the troops were in motion, separating and going out on three 
parallel roads. We were in the center and on the Columbia pike. 
At Thompson's Station, six miles out, the cavalry engaged a few 
rebels, driving them. Our loss was two killed and two wounded. 
At Spring Hill we found many of the union wounded of the late 
battle. The enemy had paroled them before our forces arrived 
within reach of them. It had been intended for us to move so 
slowly as to allow the other commands to come in here, in the \'r-,w 
of the enemy, and thus bag him ; hut our column got there some 
time before the flanking columns appeared. We camped one mile 
south. Immediately foraging commenced, and there was much to 
be foraged. Pigs, chickens, »'^<;s. turkeys, hams, flour, meal, etc., 
were soon coming into camp to visit the Yanks. 

Gen. Gilbert, discovering it. sent his staff, Capt. Stacy, to arrest 
whomsoever he might find foraging. He at times caught those 
outside his command, and then no attention was paid them. At 
10 P. M. it began to rain hard and continued all the next day and 
night. On the morning of the loth Capt. Stacy was out early and 
every man found bringing in anything was required to deposit it 
on the heap that was soon made, near the ruins of a brick house, 
(lose to our camp, and the criminals to stand in line near by. 
About eight o'clock Gen. Gilbert rode up and began to lecture the 
men for stealing. Gen. Granger, wondering what was the cause 
of t his array of soldiers, rode up and immediately Understood it by 
seeing the huge pile of nick-nacks. He asked Gen. Gilbert what 
he was doing, and when he had told him, Granger ordered the 
men back to their commands and rode away. Of course, he was 
the soldier's idol from that day. 

While marching we spared very little that belonged t<> rebels, 
and as there were very few who were not such, the hot union 



54 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

man in the district, and who was then acting as guide for Gen. 
Granger, lost all his bee gums before the troops became aware 
whose place they were on. It was then too late to make amends, 
yet he did not complain. About 4 P. M. the advance saw the 
rebels in line on the east side of Carter's Creek. The stream was 
so swollen that it could only be crossed at the regular fords, and 
these the rebels held, so we camped. Our brigade was near the 
residence of Tim. Whittaker ; it was soon discovered that his smoke 
house was filled with the best of meat, and we were not long in 
appropriating it. By " we, 11 in this connection, is meant the whole 
brigade, as all participated. The geutlemin pretended to own 
nothing, and only received money from those who saw fit to pay 
him for things they took. His wife owned all and was very bois- 
terous; at one moment she would curse us as Lincolnites, and then 
would cry. Her splendid carriage horses were taken. This she 
could not bear ; we could take all else, but must leave her them. 
Gen. Gilbert, who made the honse his headquarters, had them 
returned to her. In less than an hour not a board was to be seen 
of the fence within half a mile, and not a picket or railing, or 
scarcely a post, was left to show what had surrounded their costly 
and beautiful grounds. The boards were taken to sleep on or to 
keep us out of the water ; the pickets and posts were used to 
kindle fires, and rails kept them ablaze thereafter. In this section 
the rails were mostly of red cedar. A number of our men occupied 
a small house that was half full of cotton seed. Col. Opdycke, of 
the 125th Ohio, asked permission of them to occupy one room ; he 
was given one, but it was the poorest in the house. 

About 8 A. M., of the 11th, the center section was ordered to 
the front to see if it could reach a rebel battery, then in full view, 
about one and one-half miles distant. Gilbert and some others 
decided that it was out of range, hence not a shot was fired. 
There were a* few shots exchanged by other batteries both' to the right 
and left of us. A long column of rebel cavalry advanced down 
the hill and attempted to cross an open field, but a few well directed 
shots from our guns sent it to the cover of the woods in a hurry. 
This ended all work for that day. 

We were now fifteen miles from Franklin. It seemed the 
opinion of our commander that to attempt to cross the creek would 
involve an uncalled for loss of life, and result in but a barren vic- 
tory, even if the enemy should be dislodged from the hills and 



CHICKAMAUGA CAMPAIGN. 55 

forced back upon Columbia. So. at 7 A. M.. of the 12th, we began 
the retrograde movement, having enjoyed the full benefits of a cold 
March storm and seen a few miles moreof Dixie. lint was it Dixie? 
No. As long as we were in the army we were aever able to reach 
that noted land. At Louisville it was about the middle of the 
State. At Columbia it commenced with Tennessee. Tennesseeans 
said Georgia was the boundary. Georgians said Florida was the 
northern limit. Hut, as the border States were not in Dixie, and 
neither were the cotton States, one would think that land a myth. 

As we passed our guide's house on the return, the stars and 
stripes were proudly waving from one of the upper windows. 
That cost him dearly, for before night the enemy had made him 
almost houseless. 

Passing Thompson's Station, on the return, our forces re-buried 
ourdeadof the 5th. who were barely covered with earth, and in 
some instances the covering had been washed off, leaving them 
quite hare. They had all been stripped of their clothing before 
burial. We reached camp at ."> P. M.. and found that Lieut. Colvin 
and Corp. Judd had returned. Sheridan's division left the nexi 
day for Murfreesboro. 

On the 14th there was a grand review of all the troops, in and 
about Franklin, in the cotton Held south of town, (ieiis. Granger, 
Baird, Smith and Gilbert were present. Our Battery was chosen 
to fire at a target an old log. A few rounds were fired; some of 
the shots were excellent, while others were quite the reverse. 

The tearing down of Gilbert's works, and building of new and 
substantial ones, was pushed forward with vigor, and soon Fort 
Granger bad become really a strong fort. This and others then 
built, saved Nashville and perhaps another year's war. \<y aiding 
our troops to defeat Mood on the 29th of November, L864. 

On the 16th was commenced what should long before have 

been the genera] order througl t the army the drilling of the 

others with the musket. Thej soon discovered it was notso much 
sport as at first supposed. 

On tile 17th two twenty-four pound siege mm- were received 
for fort Granger. They were hauled up by hand and placed iii 
position. 

The camps were required by general order to lie dailj 

thoroughly policed, and the medical inspector visited all camp- and 
examined each tent to see that it was perfectly neat and clean. 



56 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIC4HT ARTILLERY. 

This order conduced more to health than did all the quinine that 
was so freely given for each and every disease or complaint during 
the war. 

On the 18th the wagon train started out for forage, but had 
gone only three miles before it was forced to retreat before a bodv 
of the enemy. 

On the 19th another camp ground for the Battery was resolved 
upon. To get the men all out, the assembly whs blown. Think- 
ing it must be some good news, all rushed into the ranks, only to 
have a shovel handed us ; then after a " Right face, forward 
march, 11 we soon found ourselves on the allotted ground, and were 
told that we could now proceed to police it. Several who were 
" unable to attend roll call " were thus forced to do their share. 

We were a little tardy in getting into line on the morning of 
the 20th, so orders were issued to be out punctually at four, and to 
remain till five every morning thereafter. Eight more men were 
received on detail from the 78th Illinois. 

An order was promulgated to the effect that all offenders must 
be tried in their own commands and by their company or regi- 
mental officers. A Judge Advocate was to be appointed by the 
commander of the company or regiment. Lieut. Colvin was ap- 
pointed for that office in our Battery. 

On the 22d Corp. Judd received a furlough — one that had 
been promised him at Mumfordsville. 

It had been decided that the James rifle was not the best gun 
for field service, so we were ordered to turn ours over. We did 
this on the 24th and drew instead two twelve-pound Napoleons 
and four three-inch rifles, ( Rodmans. ) At first the twelve-pounders 
were placed on the flanks of the Battery, but to have them both in 
one section, they were given to the right. Our old guns were 
placed in the fort, and we soon had to drill the remnants of the 22d 
Indiana and 33d Wisconsin regiments on them. Well we remem- 
ber the trouble we had to pack the chests of our new guns. It was 
raining, seemingly, as hard as possible, and it was necessary to carry 
the chests under a tarpaulin-covered shed in order that the ammuni- 
tion should not get damp. All hands were well drenched while 
taking off and putting on the chests. " Baby, 11 of gun 3, was ar- 
rested for not being out at roll call that morning, and the court 
martial in due time decided that fifteen days 1 extra duty was suffi- 
cient punishment for the offense. The Corporal, who was among 



i HICKAMAI i. \ i Wll' V.IGN". D( 

those arrested for the Louisville affair, was relieved without trial; 
four of the others were to Lose $6.50, or a half month's paj ; and 
the five to work ten days each on the fortifications. 

On the 25th the rebels attacked and captured Brentwood, a 
station about eight miles from Nashville. Thej were, however, 
soon after driven away. A force of cavalry wassent from Franklin 
tn aid the garrison. As no artillery was scut with them the;) com- 
plained bitterly. "0, if we bad onlj bad a battery along, we could 
have captured the whole of them!" This was their general cry 
whenever they returned from an unsuccessful expedition. 

Our horses were left barnessed all of the 26th, long after all 
danger was over ai Brentwood, thai we might be ready to march 
to its relief in case we should be wanted. Among those captured 
there was J. H. Van, our brigade postmaster. 

On the 28th the Battery was inspected by thefirsi thoroughly 
drilled artillery-man we had ever met. He appeared perfectly 
familiar with all movements, many not mentioned in the drill 
books, and to have the eyes of Argus. \\ hile riding by on a trot 
he would notice little disarrangements in the harness that tin* 
careless drivers had overlooked. •■What's that strap out of its 
loop for? 11 '"Where"-, the trussing strap that belongs there?" 
"That horse wants a shoe on that foot." pointing to it. etc.. etc.. 
until we began to think our Battery was in poor condition, while 
we had prided ourselves that few could equal us in good order. 
This officer was ('apt. .lames Thompson, of the Second I'. S. 
Artillery. He drilled us often afterwards, and although he was 
strict to a fault, still we always felt glad to have him take hold 
of the reins of the Battery. Although our Dutchman, alia- Nor- 
wegian, had to hold the pole up for half an hour to punish him for 
neglecting to let the pole prop down, still even he liked him and 
wished him to come oftener. And the cannoneer who had to walk 
for neglecting to sit with arms properly folded, forgave him and 
rejoiced at his coming. We never met his equal as a drill master. 

He was lien. Granger's Chief of Artillen .and was soon afterward- 
promoted to a Colonelcy. 

On the 3 1st Sergt. Wells was discharged at Nashville, ami 
Win. Siege) received notice of his discharge at the Battery. 

On the 1st of April order- were read that those who merited 
were the mi.- t<. be promoted from (hi- date, and that all who 

were worthy should have their name- reported. Officers were to 



58 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

wear their side arras while on drill; they had fallen into the habit 
of wearing as little as possible of the army paraphernalia, especially 
while on drill. Hansell, gunner of gun 4, was promoted to ser- 
geant, vice Wells, discharged. Corp. Judd made gunner of the 
same, and Private Morgan Banks, of the same, to corporal (chief 
of caisson). On gun 2 Clute was made gunner, and Private Korah 
was promoted to chief of caisson of same. 

A few prisoners were brought in on the 2d. In the after- 
noon Gen. Gilbert started for Murfreesboro. It was rumored that 
he was succeeded by Col. Bennison, of the 78th Illinois. We began 
to rejoice over what we thought was our good luck. On the 3d 
the report was that he was gobbled, but on the next day all our 
joy was suddenly ended by seeing him ride inside the lines and up 
to his headquarters. 

Since starting on the Kentucky campaign, or rather since the 
negroes were driven from camp, we had adopted the practice of 
each man, or a few at most, cooking for himself. Each man 
wished his sowbelly and hard tack cooked according to his own 
taste. One chose "Dundefunk," 1 another "Slubmagullion,'' another 
something else, so that the general cook could not please all. But 
on the 5th strict orders were received from the brigade com- 
mander that we must have squad cooks ; that one man was to be 
detailed from each squad for that purpose, and these cooks were to 
receive twenty-five cents per day extra from the Government, 
(which they never did). 

On the 6th we commenced artillery foot-drill, the first we ever 
had in the Battery. In the afternoon we signed the pay rolls 
again, and received the announcement that the paymaster was 
then at the post. 

On the 9th, by orders from Rosecrans, who was supposed, 
especially by the enemy, to know everything as fast as it occurred, 
we were up by four o'clock and ready to receive the enemy. On 
drill that forenoon we fired three shells at a target. Another 
brigade of infantry arrived during the night. Van Dorn sent in 
orders for us to surrender, so all was ready by 3 A. M., on the 
10th, to surrender if we could do no better. At I P. M. he 
attacked our pickets, and charging through them, was soon in 
town, where his columns were ordered to halt, but many charged 
on; down to the pontoon bridge they came, only to bite the dust 
or to retreat with all possible speed. We hitched up and sent the 



' BICKAMAUGA CAMPAIGN. 59 

left section under Lieut. Colvin to the fort. It toot several posi- 
tions, but was not allow. m1 to fire. The L8th Ohio battery, con- 
trary to orders, shelled the depot with great spirit, for which its 
commander was severely reprimanded. The rebels opened on the 
fort with their artillery. One shell passed over and struck among 
our mulewagons, causing the drivers, black and white, to turn 
pale, and to begin to look lor trees behind which to hide. The 
rest of the rebel shots struck short. Many of their horses lost 
their riders in the town and at the pontoon, and two horse- came 
across and were captured in our camp. One man. whose horse fell 
near the pontoon, ran almost flew back to the shelter of the 
houses, amid shouts id' derision and laughter from our men. The 
large guns id' the fort were doing fearful execution among those 
who were outside the town, where they could lie reached. By this 
time some of Stanley's cavalry, then en-route from ftturfreesboro, 
anticipating this attack, came in Van Dora's rear, and began slav- 
ing his men right and left. The 4th V. S. Cavalry captured four 
of his guns. and. l>ein>; unable to haul them off, cut the spoke- of 
the carriages, spiked the guns, and tumbled one into a creek. This 
unlooked for attack on their rear caused the rebels to retreat pell- 
mell. The 40th Ohio were on picket around town and were some- 
what cut up. The rebel dead turned black immediately after death, 
and their canteens were found in many instance- to contain 
whisky and gunpowder. At 4 P. M. guns 1 and 3, of our Battery, 
and two regiments of infantry were sent out to a ford seven miles 
above. They went on the double quick most of the distance, but 
got there too late to have anything to say to Van Dorn, as he had 
completed his retreat to Spring Hill. The next evening the left 
section and guns 1 and 3 returned to camp. 

On the 14th there was a grand review to ascertain how many 
recruits each command required to fill it to its maximum. 

On the 15th we drew, as special delicacies and sanitary sup- 
plies, three pickles, two peppers and four and a half pounds of 
desiccated potatoes for the entire company! 

The fields were now so green as to warrant our taking the 
horses out daily to graze. As soon as the wheat was high enough 
we let them feed on that in all the nearest fields, because it was 
■deemed unsafe to go outside the protection of the fort. 

( )n the 16th Van I lorn again sent a summons for us to surrender, 
J nit he thought he would not attempt to enforce it. and made no at tack. 



60 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

On the ]8th we turned over our Sibley tents and drew "Purp," 
or shelter tents. A description of them is unnecessary, as all know 
how nice they are in the summer, how one's head and feet are left 
to enjoy the cool night breezes, while the rest of the body is com- 
fortably sheltered. Eighteen men were detailed to go south of 
town to cut away some fruit trees and tear down or burn some 
houses that were standing in the range of the guns. 

About a hundred of our cavalry were seen returning from a 
scout, and from a distance were taken to be rebels, so that Capt. 
Aylshire, who commanded the Pioneer force that day, ordered 
Lieut. Colvin to get his men into camp as fast and well as he could. 
We despaired of ever again seeing our comrades, but soon they 
came straggling along, taking their leisure and telling us that the 
supposed force of rebels was only a few blue coats. This was con- 
sidered a good joke on the officers in command of the Pioneers. 

Our first night in the " Purps" gave us proof of their efficacy 
as shelters. If one drew himself up into opossum form and was 
careful not to touch the tent in any place, he could remain quite 
dry, but as soon as he straightened himself, either his feet or 
his head caught all the eaves, and if he chanced to touch the tent, 
the water no longer followed the inclined plane, but took the 
shortest course to him. 

On the 19th Geo. W. Peters was discharged at Nashville. 

At the head of our culinary department — for we had a head 
then — was a man who had been detailed from the 78th Illinois. 
He was an adept at his business, (pocketing money) and told us 
if we would build an oven he would get us up some extra dishes 
occasionally. We built one, and soon could get all the tough pie 
crust, with a small amount of apple sauce for dressing, we wanted 
for the sum of twenty-five cents per pie, but found that our former 
passably good meals were now very scarce and in no season or 
quality. To this we soon objected, but that made no difference; 
if we would not buy, those from other commands would. At 
length the oven fell down one night; then there was a stir; heavy 
rewards were offered for the perpetrators of the outrage, but with 
no success. The oven was rebuilt, and there was not quite so 
much pilfering of rations thereafter. 

On the 20th Kelner, of gun 5, was transferred to the veteran 
reserve corps. 



CHICKAMAUGA CAMPAIGN. 61 

On the 21st the mule drivers got their extra pay; this aroused 
us one.' more to looking for the "greenback man,"' and on the 
24th we found him, and immediately drew six months 1 pay per 

man. 

Our money disposed of, camp duties were again all we had to 
busy ourselves with, but we could not rest easy thus: we must 
have something to awaken us and keep alive our spirits. The 
tipping over of a caisson while on drill would give ground for com- 
ment only f'<»r a day. At last some one discovered brier root near 
by, and soon the camp was converted into a pipe manufactory. 

But pipes alone could not satisfy us. It was s i learned that 

mussel shells would make very beautiful rings, and soon the riv< 't- 
was searched to safe distances, above and below, and rings, 
breast-pins, etc., began to be turned out in great numbers; many 
of them were of beautiful design, and were sent to our friends at 
home. 

On the night of the 26th signals were given to the post by a 
spy that a camp of rebels was within a few miles. At midnight 
the cavalry went out. and had to go but a few mileserethey found 
the looked-for camp. They surprised it and captured nearly the 
entire force. Darkness aided a few to escape. The officers were 
allowed time to dress, hut the poor privates fared very badly. 
Those who had been so unwise as to remove any of their clothing 
uever saw it again. Some came in bootless, others hatless, many 
coatless, and one poor fellow had to leave his unmentionables. 
Some rode on horses, with or without saddles, some on mules, 
while others had to walk. As they came in. our spy, who was one 
of their number, managed to ride ahead with the colonel com- 
manding, and motioning to the group that stood near the road, 
galloped up to headquarters, and had communicated with Gen. 
Granger ere the column, which was purposely retarded in crossing 
the pontoon, had arrived. The spy was kept among the rest of the 
prisoners and started tor Nashville on the same train, hut managed 
to escape before he reached there. 

(hi the 29th Fish was mustered out at Nashville. 

A.S May-day is moving day at home, so it was with our 
brigade that year in the army. In order to get an early start, for 
we supposed our next tenement must he far away, all hands were 
up l>\ 12:30 A. M.. and off by two. We reached Thompson's Sta- 
tion at sunrise, and met a force of our cavalry returning, when it 



62 BATTERY M. FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

was discovered that this was some strategic move. The cavalry 
had twelve prisoners. We returned to camp, reaching there at 
10 A. M. 

Capt. Miller, having so far recovered as to be able to travel, 
sent Stone, who had been attending him* to the Battery, while he 
started for New York on the 2d. That day we had artillery 
brigade drill, and Capt. Thompson pronounced us best drilled of 
the three batteries, viz: 9th and 18th Ohio and Battery M; of our 
battery he said the left section was the best. 

By being called up at 2:30 A. M., on the 6th, and ordered to 
pack up everything, it was supposed that we were going on a 
long march. Our splendid bunks were soon carried away by the 
infantry, and by the time we started, 9 A. M., there was little left 
to mark where our camp had been. At one mile south of town we 
went into camp. We were only sent there to guard the infantry 
while they were felling the heavy woods. It rained very hard, and 
for something to lie on, we copied after the gray backs — com- 
menced barking — the trees, and soon had the smooth side of the 
bark for a bed. Capt. Stacy had some trouble with an infantry- 
man, who was the son of one of the colonels of the brigade. He 
attempted to whip the man, but soon found himself on the ground. 
He ordered the man arrested, but the colonel soon released him, 
and made some threats against the captain. The offense of the 
man was having taken some boards from a rebel's stable, with 
which he wanted to make a bunk. 

On the 8th the Battery went out at noon to drill, and by 
orders from the general, was kept there till dark, then was 
allowed to go to camp. Broke camp at 3:45 A. M., of the 9th. and 
were back on our old camp ground by 7, but not one vestige of our 
comfortable bunks could be found on the ground, and we were 
forced to lie in the mud, as our camp Avas on ground that had been 
sown to winter wheat. This day four sixty-four-pound howitzers 
arrived for Fort Granger. This now made the fort quite formid- 
able. 

On the 10th the rebel general, Van Dorn, was killed at Spring 
Hill. 

On the 15th the three batteries composing the Artillery Bri- 
gade began target practice. Each gun fired two rounds at one 
thousand yards range. On the 16th we fired test shots, Gen. 
Granger being present. Battery M did best, and Brumfield, gun- 



CHICK VM.WiiA CAMPAIGN. 63 

ner of gun 5, won the Laurels. Be was praised by Granger for his 
welldoing. This so elated Lieut. Colvin thai he immediately sen! 
lor some corn ketchup and treated his section. 

('apt. Avlshirr. who was now, l>\ date of commission, chief of 
artillery, inspected us on the L7th. At aighl Col. Baird, who was 
captured with Col. Coburn, and who had just been exchanged, ad- 
dressed the few who remained of the 22d Indiana and 33d Wis- 
consin part of his old command and charged all to Gen. Gilbert. 
He said that had aid been sent when requested, they would have 
defeated the rebels. 

On the L8th the 18th Ohio Battery was best at targei prac- 
tice, and Battery M was second. It was also besi the next day, as 
we now fired at longer range, and we had only lour rifled guns, 
while it had six. On tin' 20th, we took a mile range and tested 
ten-pounder with ten-pound, and gun •">. of our Battery, again won 
the day. 

On the 22d we drew a barrel of whisky, and it was deter- 
mined that it should he kept in the hospital tent, to be used only 
for the sick or for the men when they had been at work; hut by 
the "" si<k"" we did not at first understand that the whole Franklin 
force was included, though thai must have been the meaning, for 
those not always sick from other commands got more of if 
than did our own men. To this we objected ami it was soon put 
a stop to— as soon as the whisky was gone. 

On the 25th we began building sheds for our horses, and 
being quite comfortably situated again, it was considered by the 
knowing ones a sure sign of an early move. 

On the Hist our No. 3 and 4 guns wen- exchanged with the 
9th Ohio Battery for two of their twelve-pounder Napoleons. 
Guns 5 and 6 were then given to the center section, and the new 
guns to the left section. 



CHAPTER IX. 



On the 1st of June orders were received to prepare to march, 
and that those not Avell enough to march were to be sent to the 
hospital at Nashville. J. B. Hunt, who was yet suffering from 
the kick of a horse, left us for that hospital. All our extra bag- 
gage was boxed up and sent to the depot to be shipped to Nash- 
ville, where it yet remains for aught we know; no attempts were 
ever made to recover it for us. As this was our last day at Frank- 
lin, let us bid it an affectionate adieu by reminding it that we only 
moved camp six times in the eleven weeks of our stay. 

At 3 A. M., of the 2d, we were up, and before six were on the 
move, taking an easterly course until the Nashville and Petersburg 
pike was reached, and, following that for a short distance, soon 
bore off toward Triune, which was reached at 1 P. ]VL — fourteen 
miles from Franklin. Triune was well fortified and very well 
garrisoned, but it was much like Millersville, Kentucky — there 
were but few houses to obstruct our view. Near by was the ground 
our right wing occupied in the memorable battle of Stone River. 

On the 3d Schoeffer was discharged at Chicago, he having 
never joined the Battery after it left there. 

On the 6th Axtell left for the hospital on account of deafness. 

On the 7th the rebel cavalry came near town and surrounded 
some of our men, who, however, cut their way out. The Battery 
was ordered to move, and went only as far as the pike, the rebels 
having retreated. 

On the 9th the rebels came in from the west and captured our 
vedettes. Our cavalry engaged them; our center section was 
ordered out on the double quick, and followed them about four 
miles, but the enemy were too far off for us to do any execution 
upon them. 

On the 10th Lieut. Colvin left to take command of a battery 
in the Department of the Ohio. 



CHK KAMAUG \ CAMPAIGN. 65 

Early in the morning of the 11th our horses were sent out to 
graze. A.bout eight o'clock they came in at full speed, except one 
team driven by "Growler." It came in lah — the driver being 
minus his hat, la- having not only lost that, but his road also. The 
cause of this scare was that Forrest was advancing, and his 
advance was already skirmishing with ourpickets. We immediately 
hitched up— that is. as fast as the horses arrived for us t<> do 
so — and the center section was sent to the edge of the timber to 
the east. They unlimbered just as a body of rebel cavalry charged 
from the opposite woods upon our pickets stationed in the ditch 
about half way across the held. As the cavalry reached the 
pickets it halted to fire, and at this moment gun 3 exploded ashell 
in its midst, which caused a wheel about and a gallop for the woods. 
Before the rebels had gained its shelter both guns had dropped 
two or three shells among them, causing the emptying of a num- 
ber of saddles. 

Following the center section, the rest of the Battery was 
halted in the road near by and left standing in single column. \- 
soon as the cavalry charge had been repulsed our cavalry began 
maneuvering in our front. That is. it started out. fell back, etc., 
and when, a few minutes later, two rebel guns opened on us from 
the woods opposite, ourcavalry was so much in the wa\ a- to make 
it dangerous for us to reply. At first the rebel shells passed above 
the trees and over our heads. They gradually drew them down 
till they struck all around the guns, and had we not been succ< — 
ful in exploding a shell against the muzzle of one of the 
enemy's guns, and by it killing two men and an officer and doing 
other damage, they would certainly have done us much injury. A.s 
it was. only Loomis, a driver of No. 3 caisson, was hurt slightlj on 
the arm by the falling limb of a tree. The right and left sections 
standing in the road were in the most danger. Those of the center sec- 
tion could see the rebel shells as they flew along the straight pike and 
passing barely over the head- of the right and left sections and the 
other troops in the road, would go by doing no harm. A- soon as 
we had silenced the rebel guns, the cavalry started -lowly in pur- 
suit. The enemy had to haul off one of its guns in a wagon a- we 
had disabled the carriage. We tired but sixteen rounds, then went 
with the cavalry nearly to the Harpeth River, when it was decided 
best not to attempt a crossing. The Battery had been halted 
about a mile from the river among the many mulberry trees found 



66 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

there. Soon the cavalry returned — the mounted band playing 
triumphant airs. The entire rebel loss had been about twelve killed,, 
sixteen wounded and twelve prisoners. We were out about eight 
miles. As we returned, an old man 102 years of age, accompanied 
us on horseback. He said he remembered George Washington 
well. He was a rebel at heart and so said. 

During the action Capt. Russell. Gen. Granger's chief of staff, 
was near our Battery, and said he a had never seen better firing, 
that we got range, elevation and time quickly, and kept them." 

That day Farrell and Richardson came, the former to have his 
sentence of expulsion from the service consummated; the latter 
from hospital. 

On the 12th James Sommers and Horace Brown were missing. 
It was at first supposed they were out on a bummer's scout, but as 
they never returned, it was concluded that they had taken French 
leave, and were reported as deserters, perhaps wrongfully. 

On the 13th, with very little preparation, and before 
breakfast, Farrell, with the orderly on his left, Sergt. Miller on his 
right, and a fifer and two drummers from the infantry, and Lieut. 
Fluskey at his back, was escorted to the tune of u Poor Old 
Soldier," to the lines in the direction of Franklin. 

On the 15th there was a general remodeling of this portion of 
the army, and we were forever freed from Gen. Gilbert. He was 
subsequently sent back to his regiment in the regular army as 
captain. The following, taken from a Mnrfreesboro dispatch of a 
later day, shows the conclusion of Capt. Stacy's military career: 
" Capt. J. Edward Stacy, 2d Kentucky, is dishonorably dismissed 
from the service of the United States for forgery, and is ordered 
beyond the lines of this army, not to return during the war." 

In the re-organization Ave were assigned to the Reserve Corps 
of the Army of the Cumberland, commanded by Gen. Gordon 
Granger. It was divided into three divisions, the 1st under Gen. 
Baird, the 2d under J. D. Morgan, and the 3d under R. S. Granger, 
at Nashville. We were placed in the 1st Division. 2d Brigade, 
Col. Reid commanding the brigade, which consisted of the 98th. 
113th, 121st Ohio, 78th Illinois, and Battery M, 1st Illinois 
Artillery. On this day O'Toole was discharged at Nashville. 

On the 21st all the batteries were inspected by Gens. Granger 
and Baird. 



< IIK KAM.W <..\ CAMPAIGN. 67 

On the 23d we started out to drill before breakfast, as had 
been the custom at this post, so as to have nothing to do in flu* 
heat of the day, when we were ordered back and told to get readj 
to march immediately. At '.' A. M. we bade Earewell to Triune, 
and. waiting for other troops to pass out on the pike, we were off on 
our dirt road again. The country was very rough, and traveling 
as we supposed on nearly a level, we suddenly found ourselves at 
the edge of an inland promontory. To the east, till the sky 
appeared to meet the earth, was a cedar sea! Its surface was as 
calm as though no breeze ever ruffled it. But we must descend 
into that green ocean, and locking both hind wheels of each car- 
riage, we proceeded in a zigzag to the bottom. It was a poor road 
through the red cedar swamp, at times being almost impassable. 
About midway through we found a whisky distillery that was just 
resuming operations, and, of course, had but little of the anient 
on hand. We sampled such as they had. and proceeded. Crossing 
Rock River soon after emerging from the swamp, we camped about 
one mile north of the village of Salem, fourteen miles from Triune 
and >ix miles from Murfreesboro. On the way man\ of the wagons 
broke down and many were left standing where they broke. 

Our camp that night was in a cornfield, the com being about 
knee high. It began to rain the next morning. The night before 
we had togo about a mile for water, hut this morning it was found 
all around our tires and even in our tents. The rain slackened a 
little at times during the day. but before ni»iit. wherever the water 
could not run off. it lay in sheet-. About noon there was cannon- 
ading about two miles off, and the troops were immediately on the 
move. We traveled very slowly and stopped longer than we moved. 
About dark we were within two mile- of Stone River, and by 
hitches, had succeeded in reaching it and crossing by 1 A. M. of 
the 25th. All were very sleepy, and wherever there was a fence 
there was a fire and by each tire, in the rain and mini, lay from 
one to a dozen men. After crossing the river l>\ fording, the road 

for some distance ran through a densely w led swamp. Here it 

was so dark that if one carriage happened to get a rod ahead of 
the next following, there was no ua\ for the hinder one to pro- 
ceed, as it would certainly lose the track. Many declared that had 
we our cheese knives the} could he used to advantage in cutting 
our way through this darkness. Reaching a little tinner ground, 
we camped where the water was about three inches deep. Our only 



68 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLISTOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

lantern had been carried at the head of the column, but after starting 
fires with the red cedar rails of a neighboring fence, the drivers 
could see whether they had brought up their off horses or had lost 
them in the darkness. Caring little for the water, and after mak- 
ing some coffee and with it eating some of our soaked hard tack,, 
all turned in — to the water— and were soon asleep. We slept till 
late in the day, and then discovered that had we gone but a short 
distance further we should have found good camping grounds. 

It took but little time to get ready to move that morning. It 
was still raining very hard, and we had to march against a strong 
wind and through mud and water nearly knee deep. At 8:30 A. 
M. the Murfreesboro and Shelbyville pike was reached at Warren's 
Grove, where were found two churches and three residences. This 
was fourteen miles from Salem . So fatigued were the troops that 
when once asleep they heeded not the rain pelting in their faces, 
nor even the kicks of their comrades, as they would attempt to 
awaken them for coffee or duty. An officer of an Illinois regi- 
ment lay by a fire sleeping soundly, and some, wishing to see how 
much it would require to awaken him, put him on a stretcher, 
covered his face as though he was a corpse, and carried him to the 
church that was used as a hospital. Those around seeing, as they 
supposed, a dead man being brought in, gathered close around the 
stretcher; there was soon quite a group and many eager questions 
were asked. In front of the door they set the stretcher down, and 
uncovering the officer's face so as to let the large drops from a tree 
strike fairly on it, he was soon awake. The look of bewilderment 
he gave as he found himself in that position called forth so many 
shouts of laughter that the poor officer walked away declaring, " It 
may be a good joke, but I can't see it." 

At noon it was reported that the rebels were advancing from 
the south, and all were soon in position to receive them, but we 
were not favored with a call. 

All through here and farther to the east, Morgan had had his 
men at work harvesting the wheat crop. Gen. Rosecrans had 
said some time before that he did not wish Morgan to do all the 
work; that Morgan might harvest and he would thresh. And so 
he did. There was very little good grain left after the army had. 
. passed, and it was quite as well, for had we not used it the heavy 
rains would have spoiled it. 



( IIKK \\l V.UG A CAMPAIGN. 69 

We were up by 3 A. M. on the 26th; it rained nearly all day. 
The cavalry was near by, and among it there was a portion of the 
Chicago Board of Trade Battery. In that we had a number of 
friends, and it seemed like being at home to meei them, even in 
that country. 

At 8 A. M.. of the 27th, we took the pike in the direction of 
Shelbyville, but had gone only about half a mile before we had to 
halt to let the cavalry pass, and lay there till noon before it was all 
by. We reached Guy's Gap at five, six miles from camp and nine 
and a half miles from Shelbyville. As we approached we could 
see plainly the high knob to the left of the gap, which the rebels 
had used for a signal station; it was speedily converted to the use 
of the union. We found about five hundred prisoners here that 
had been captured at Shelbyville. At night the left section, under 
Lieut. Fluskey, was scut out on picket. 

The next morning three cannon arrived that had been cap- 
tured at Shelbyville. Prisoners told us that one id' these was the 

one we had failed to disable at Trim n the 11th. It was a 

rifled gun and made at Rome, Ga. We took charge of the guns 
and marched back to Warren's Grove, reaching there at 5:30 I*. 
M., and the pike being excellent, the cannoneers were allowed to 
tide. On the 29th the captured guns were scut to Murfreesboro. 
About noon we moved camp to a splendid (lover field about a mile 
north, and were beginning to stake out camp, when orders came 
for us to march for Shelby ville. We had scarcely got in motion 
before it began to rain even harder than it had before, and it was 
not long ere all were thoroughly wet. It continued to rain till 
8 I'. M. We camped at nine o'clock, four miles from Shelbj ville. 



CHAPTER X. 



On the morning of the 30th of June the brigade moved to 
Walnut Grove, within two miles of town. As we stood in the 
road a union lady of the Brown low style, came to meet us. The 
rebels had named her Madam Yank. In many words she gave us 
a full description of all that had been done by the rebels, and suf- 
fered by the union people, of the trials she had passed through, of 
what she had told several rebel generals, and of her having driven 
so many gray backs from her house. Her narrative was as amus- 
ing as interesting. At one house we passed, a lady, eighty -four 
years old, presented a flag that she had kept secreted over a year, 
to the band of one of the regiments, for which the band played 
some national airs, which seemed to make her feel fifty years 
younger. 

Till we reached our present camp Gen. Granger had put no 
restrictions on foraging, but he could appreciate the union feeling 
at Shelbyville, and so issued an order, commending the loyalty of 
the citizens, and proclaiming that any one caught in an act of 
vandalism should be punished with death. 

At 1 P. M., on the 1st of July, we entered Shelbyville and 
found the streets alive with pale-faced, half-starved men — men 
who had lain in the hills, burrowed like foxes, for several months 
to keep out of the hands of the rebels. They could not reach our 
lines owing to the strict surveillance kept up by the enemy. A 
description of the rejoicings at the meetings of these men with 
their families, and under such circumstances — many of them hav- 
ing been mourned as dead — cannot be given. We found these 
people kind and friendly, and it was not long ere Ave were at home 
with them, and they with us. Perhaps even warmer friendships 
were formed there than at Louisville. 

Our left section was stationed in town as guards, and the rest 
went into camp about a mile southeast of the town, and near Duck 
River. Here our whisky was soon all issued, and we had no fur- 
ther wrangling: about it. 



I UK K \M.\rii.\ CAMPAIGN 11 

On, and for a few days after the 2d. some of us amused our- 
selves in fishing for things the rebels had lost in the river, as they 
attempted to swim across, the day the place was captured. We 
found muskets, sabres, etc., also one or two bodies. We also dis- 
covered that the river contained many beautiful mussel shells, and 
soon shell work was begun in good earnest. Shell-diving was an 
art all soon became complete uiasters of. The articles made sold 
readily then, and for some time afterward, for almost fabulous 
prices. As we had suffered while on our late march, so m>u we 
rested and enjoyed ourselves. 

On the 3d Axtell was discharged at Nashville. 

At 2 P. M., on the 4th, the whole Battery moved into town 
and |>nt the guns in position at the corners of the public square. 
The men took quarters in deserted brick stores, and were soon as 
comfortable as soldiers need he. 

(hi the 6th the town was crowded with men and women from 
many miles around. They came in to hear one more public word 
for t he union they so loved. Addresses were made by lion. \Y. 

II. Wisner, d. II. Williams special topographical engineer for 
Gen. Etosecrans, and a resident of Shelbyville Col. Banning, of 
the 121st Ohio, and Mr. Tilghmr.n. The latter and .Mr. Wisner 
opposed the administration hut favored the union. 

That day a little fortifying was done by placing barricades, 
with proper passes, across the streets leading to the square. 

The weather continued bad, but being in good houses, we 
eared little for it. In a building near l>\ was found a quantitj of 
type of the Chattanooga Rebel, and this afforded us some amuse- 
ment. 

Blackberries, of which there appeared to be no limit, were now 
in their prime, and well we lea-ted on them. When going out to 
graze the horses we would take the rubber buckets along and gel 
all we could eat till the uext day and so on. The men were not 
only cheerful and happy <>n account of our newly found friendship 
and the cheapness of everything they wished to buy, but the 
glorious news of the successes of Grant and Meade began to flow 
in. and filled our cup quite to overflowing. 

We could see peace and home dancing before our eyes, and 
the many camp rumors of armistice, cessation of hostilities, etc., 

made us imagine we could almost shake hands wit! rfriends at 

home. 



72 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

On the 7th J. B. Hunt was discharged at Louisville. 

On the 8th Sergt. Miller, of gun 5, was detailed as post baker. 
He never rejoined the company, so he was, perhaps wrongfully, 
reported afterwards on the roll as a deserter. 

On the 9th Merchant was transferred to the Veteran Reserve 
Corps. 

On the 10th the citizens raised a large flag at the southeast 
corner of the square, and suitable speeches were delivered on the 
occasion. 

We now learned that Morgan had reached Indiana, and was 
inarching wherever he pleased. This we knew would do our cause 
more good than harm, so we rather rejoiced at it. 

Here the provost marshal's office was daily crowded with peo- 
ple coming in to take the oath, though the union people thought 
it hard to have to swear to sustain the Government they had never 
deserted by act or thought. 

On the 12th, during a hard shower, the 133d Illinois and 17th 
Indiana Mounted Infantry, passed through, en-route for Columbia. 
They had nothing to eat, and as they passed our quarters we seut 
a shower of bread upon them from the windows. We had quite a 
stock on hand, for we were drawing more than we could eat. 

On the 14th we left our houses and moved to near our old 
camp, south of town, as it was decided to be unhealthy to live in 
houses ! 

That day the 121st Ohio was presented with a flag that had 
been sewed up in a feather bed for two years, and on which rebels 
had often slept, not dreaming of its existence. 

On the 16th camp was moved about ten rods. 

The cars having arrived, we were now in receipt of daily mail 
from home. 

On the afternoon of the 17th Norton died: he was buried the 
next day in the village graveyard. 

As there were no rebels around, we were allowed to sleep as 
long as we pleased. At night we beat the taps punctually with the 
infantry, using a barrel for a drum. This was done to retaliate for 
some encroachments the 113th Ohio had made on our cooking 
grounds. 

On the 20th we began sending" out wagons for forage, visiting 
only rebels. At first we got only grass, then oats and wheat, and 
finally corn. We were always certain to have a few bags along 



CHICK Wl \l'i. \ CAMP \1<tN. 78 

to till with sweet and Irish potatoes, apples, peaches, cabbage, etc., 

etc., and occasionally would find a chicken, goos ■ turkey that 

suited us. This pleased the long persecuted anion people, of \\ hom 
we took nothing without paying their price for it. The rebels 

had an idea that the oath would protect them, and as we ;t]>- 

proached a rebel's house she would run out with her protection 
papers to show us we musi keep away. Wedid, of course. We 

use "she" because there were SO few rebel men at home. thc\ were 

not worth mentioning. 

Gen. Baird was here succeeded bj Gen. Whittaker. 

On the 15th Eoward and Korah returned from the hospital. 

On the 26th we went to a large field on the west side of the 
river, and about two miles from camp, to be reviewed by our new 
general. 

On the 'JMh Scales came from hospital. 

On the 2d of August the detailed men returned to their com- 
mands, and we received as new details to till our complement oi 
men. five from the 98th, seven from the 113th, and five from the 
121st Ohio. At dusk we received two months" pay. As our com- 
mander intended to go home on a few days' leave, we took a col- 
lection and sent with him for a pair of boxing gloves wherewith to 
amuse ourselves. They never reached us as there was no trans- 
portation for baggage till too late they were stolen. 

On the 3d Gen. Rosecrans reviewed us west of town. He ap- 
peared to have a- acute an e\e as ('apt. Thompson. Eliding h\ on 

a slow canter, he noticed the absence of the onl\ shoe that was 

wanting on the horses and that had 1 a lost on the road out. 

After passing by on a review he rod< t in front of us. and 

majestically raising his hat, said, '* You are the healthiest, largest 
and best looking set of men I have yet seen in any battery, and I 
hope soon to meet you at the front." When speaking of health, 
he said the best disease preventives he knew of were soap and 
plenty of boiled meat. " I can tell a fried meat regiment as far as 
1 can see it." 

Although we had been marched over five miles during the 
review, and in the broiling sun. we felt rejoiced after reaching 
camp: for to be reviewed 'o\ -'Old Rose} was considered a privi- 

-i ml to he personally addressed by him, who was called and 
really was the soldiers 1 friend, made us feel quite the love for him 
that Napoleon's old guards so often displayed. 



74 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

That night Cain had all his money stolen. The thief was 
never discovered, but Cain lost nothing, as its equivalent was 
speedily subscribed in the Battery. 

On the 4th Lieut. Spencer started for home, and Lieut. Bur- 
ton took command. Newton returned from hospital on the 6th. 
On the 7th we received official documents to the effect that Capt. 
Miller had been honorably discharged on the 5th. 

On the 9th Corporals Dolton and Harter were sent out into 
the woods to camp apart from other troops. For several days Har- 
ter had been covered with a rash that all the surgeons of the 
brigade Were unable to give the name of, but late this day. after hav- 
ing met several times to consult, they pronounced it varioloid, and 
immediately the twain, for they bunked together, must leave camp! 
All those that would were invited to come and be vaccinated by 
Dr. Kirk. Unluckily none of the virus was good, but fortunately 
no one else was attacked. These two remained in exile until we 
left Shelbyville, when they rejoined the company. 

On the 10th the left section and the 121st Ohio moved to the 
west of town as guards. 

On the 11th two men were sent back to the 121st Ohio for 
disability. 

On the 12th the 98th and 113th Ohio went to Wartrace, the 
junction of the Shelbyville branch with the main line. 

There was to be a grand review on the next Sabbath, and, to 
be in proper order, the right and center sections took their car- 
riages to the river and thoroughly washed them. We might here 
remark that Sunday in the army is quite the opposite of what it is 
intended to be at home. Instead of a day of rest, it is apt to be the 
day for work. Gen. Howard was the only high officer under whom 
we ever served who appeared really to respect the Sabbath. 

On and after the 19th details of negroes, who were being fed 
by the Government, were sent to police our camps, there being no 
other work for them to do. 

On the 20th the 121st Ohio was sent to Fayetteville and the 
78th Illinois took its place in town. The left section joined the 
rest of the Battery. We received orders to pack up, and for the 
right section to move across the upper bridge and await further 
orders. After the whole camp had been torn up, the orders were 
countermanded, but the left section moved into town. At night 



CHICKAMAUGA I LMPAIGN. 

five of our men were detailed to pickel the ford near by, as the 
rebels were expected in. 

Next day the right and center sections moved west of town 
and camped. The lef t had orders to move, but after their tents, 
bunks, etc., had been torn u|>. the orders were countermanded. 
But on the 22d the left section went to Wartrace, distant eight 
miles. The other sections, thinking the Batterj was now per- 
manently located, built splendid shanties, and arranged their camp 
neatly. A brick oven was also built. Many remarked that we 
should certainly have to leave if we took such pains, and quoted 
many instances to prove it; for the erection of comfortable quar- 
ters or signs of rain were always sure omens of a move for the 
Batterj . 

On the uight of the 30th there was quite a frost: we thought 
this strange in the sunny south. 

On the -"'tli of September the right section, under Lieut. Bur- 
ton, went to Wartrace, to join the left section. This placed the 
rest of the Battery under command of Orderly Sergeant Gillette. 



CHAPTER XL 



At 9 A. M., on the 6th of September, the center section 
marched direct for Tullahoma. It forded Duck River at 2 P. M., 
and camped at dark within six miles of Tullahoma, and fourteen 
miles from Shelbyville. The right and left sections marched at 
10 A. M., and camped within one mile of Tullahoma, having gone 
fifteen miles. The center section started with orders to be at 
Tullahoma at 5 A. M., of the 7th, therefore they started at day- 
break and reached the rest of the Battery before it was ready to 
move. We were now once more together, with Lieut. Burton 
commanding the Battery and right section, Lieut. Fluskey the 
left, Orderly Sergeant Gillette the center, and Quarter Master 
Sergeant Murphy the caissons. Rennau joined us that morning 
from hospital. 

At 4 P. M., after marching through clouds of dust, we reached 
Elk River, and halted long enough to take a refreshing bath and 
quench our thirst at a spring near by — which spring was so cold 
one could take very little at a draught. We reached Decherd, 
twelve miles from Tullahoma, at 6 P. M., and camped. We had 
to carry wood and water nearly a mile, and must cook supper before 
eating it, for so soon after leaving the dainties of Shelbyville, hard 
tack and raw. sowbelly had not yet become palatable. When 
speaking of dainties we do not allude to the chicken pie bought 
from the natives and found to contain the heads and feet of the 
fowls. 

On the 8th all were up at 3:30 and off at daylight. We 
reached Cowan at 7:35 and halted nearly an hour for a train of 
about one thousand wagons to move to one side of the road that 
the troops might pass. At 9 A. M. the ascent of the Cumberland 
Mountain was begun. Such rocky roads we had never seen before. 
With hard work the summit was reached at eleven. Nos. 1 and 4 
had each broken a caisson stock and wheel. Repairing these 



CHICKAM \1<;a C V.MP LIGN. 

delayed as till 2 P. M. During the ball such of us as were no< at 
work busied ourselves at a shaft of the railroad tunnel near l>\ and 
made various estimates as to its depth by letting small stones drop 
to the bottom. We reached Tantallon, at the foot of the moun- 
tain, at 3:25, twelve miles from Cowan. In descending the moun- 
tain the infantry took a short cut to save a mile, and reached the 
base an bour later than we, having traveled two miles out of then- 
wax. 

Dr. Kirk had been borne on a short visit and rejoined us on 
that daw We camped at 6 P. M. one mile from Tantallon. 

Next morning Col. K id said he would not start till t he men had 
time to get their breakfast, so the brigade did not move till 7:20, 
and took dinner just south of the Alabama State line, about eighty 
roils south id' A ndersonville station. Here we had another splendid 
hath in a muddy, stagnant stream. We camped on ('row ('reek. 
having marched in a valley all day and traveled fifteen miles. This 
night there was much trouble in evttin^- into camp, as no ground 

could he found for some time that was tl ght suitable, although 

it was one Large level field of high weeds. Our camp was within 
three miles of Stevenson, which place was reached at 7:40 \. 
M.. on the loth. Great was surprise to find only about 

twenty houses in this noted town, which we had imagined to con- 
tain several thousand inhabitants. But the army stores to he -ecu 
there surprised us as much the other way. There seemed to us 
more than "' RoseyV 1 army could eat in three months. Here was 
also a company of negro soldiers out on drill, the first we had 

seen. 

Through more dust, dust knee deep we might saj tree-top 

deep, for the trees were coated with dust to their vmy tops we 
reached Bridgeport at 2 I'. M.. twelve miles from Stevenson. We 
lay in the woods about a mile west id' the forts, and found, what 
we had supposed was a very strongly fortified position, to hi' quite 
inferior in the number of forts and their strength, and wondered 
no longer thai the enemy had not held us Longer at this place. 
'Idle town we were not ahle to find. Some said it was on the 
south side oi the river, hut when there we found no signs of it. A 
few shanties that sutlers and bakers had built were the only build- 
ings to be seen. It was afterward learned that in the year I860 
three houses stood where the principal fort was now standing, hut 
that thev had been burned Long before the advance of wars 



7(5 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

ravages had reached them. The men wasted little time looking 
for this lost Ninevah, but soon found their way into the crystal 
waters of the Tennessee. 

The shell fever, that had been raging during this march, was 
really increased at the sight of the river, and those who were suf- 
fering with the disease were soon walking up and down the bank 
in quest of shells, but only very inferior ones were found. 

Near night we camped a few rods nearer the river, and had to 
cany water for cooking purposes over half a mile. Wood was 
abundant, and so were scorpions. We might also state in this 
connection that whenever we camped in the woods companions 
were plenty: besides scorpions there were lizards, toads, swifts (a 
sort of chameleon, ) chiggers, tarantulas, snakes, spiders, ticks, etc., 
to crawl into our beds and clothing during the night. Of course 
they were agreeable and welcome. 

On the 11th the Battery hitched up and moved camp about 
eighty rods nearer the river, and lay ready to move from 10 A. M. 
till 3 P. M. Our camp was among stumps and very large, high 
weeds. These latter had to be removed before putting up our 
tents. On the 12th preparations were made for a long stay (a 
move) by putting up good shebangs built of boards carried from 
the bridge. We also drew clothing. It was customary to draw 
clothing just before starting out on a campaign. This was not 
very profitable to us, as Ave would not get over a day's march 
before the order would oe given to march light and we must throw 
away all surplus. To throw away was the order, but many of us 
heeded it not. and smuggled our clothing into the ammunition 
chests or wherever we could. Forty-three dollars per } T ear was the 
allowance for clothing, but several found they had at the end of 
the first year drawn over one hundred dollars' worth. That day, 
the 12th, Lieut. Spencer, who was at home on leave, was mustered in 
as captain to date from the 5th of July. In the afternoon we were 
inspected by Colonel Thompson. Having got our camp in good 
condition for comfort, we were ordered at 5 P. M. to hitch up. and 
at six crossed the Tennessee on a pontoon bridge, and camped near 
the south bank in an open field. Water was abundant at the river, 
but wood was very scarce. 

Next morning all were astir at an early hour, and at the 
moment of marching, we received orders to leave all our baggage 
there except a blanket and a shirt apiece. We piled up our knap- 



CHICK LMAUG \ CAMPAIGN. 79 

sacks iii the field and left Sergt. Tait, of Squad 6, and Baker, of 
Squad 1. who were unable to march, to guard them. 

Off at daylight; passed the famous Nickajack cave at 9:20, 
stopping long enough to lei the horses breathe, which gave us 
opportunity to explore the cave for about balf a mile. We saw 
one end of the Saltpetre Lake and the ruins of tin rebel Saltpetre 
works. Passed the ruins of Whitesides or Falling Water bridge 
at 2:30. This bridge was 1 Mi feet high above the river. The 
rebels had 1 turned it I nd ore they left. At three we halted long enough 
t<> allow a long wagon train and some rebel deserters to pass, and 

camped at live in a beautiful basin where w I. water and Borage 

were abundant. Orders were received to resume the march at ( .) 
P. M.. hut did not start till 11:30. The night, tor darkness, 
resembled the uight we crossed the Stone River. We very slowly 
ascended the Racoon Mountains: the road was very rocky and 
quite precipitous; abysses were along its south side. Several of 
the infantry, walking beside the column, stepped oil and fell to 
the rocks below, hurting them severely: two of our men were 
thrown against rocks by their horses falling, and were quite badly 
bruised. All were very much fatigued and sleepy, and once, hav- 
ing stopped to examine the road ahead, gun 6, cannoneers and 
drivers, were sleeping so soundly when the rest of tin' Battery 
started that they knew nothing of it. We had proceeded nearly a 
mile before they were missed by Lieut. Fluskey. He went back 
to find them, and then they were all asleep the men belonging 
to gun 6, as well as those of the Battery wagon and the forge. 
We took breakfast next morning, the 14th. in sight of Lookout 
Mountain. 

Johnny Mem. whose name is remembered in connection with 
Chickamauga, rode with us part of that night. He was only 
twelve years of age, and had been two years in the service. He 
was now acting as marker in the 22d Michigan, though he came 
from Ohio, and was formerly in an Ohio regiment. 

At the foot of Lookout there was a fig tree with some ripe 
fruit on it. We divided as far as it went. This was all of that 
kind of fruit we met with in the south. 

We ascended tin' i itain at 11 A. M. (via the road near 

tie- river, and between it and the point of the mountain, and 
known as tin River Road.) Such a rough road we had never met, 
with elsewhere. Cumberland .Mountain- were thought bad enough 



80 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

to cross, but, save its being a longer road, it could not compare 
with Lookout. We halted for a few minutes at the cross roads 
near the east base in sight of Chattanooga; then moved on, and 
after waiting about an hour until Col. Reid 'could find a suitable 
camping ground for us, pitched tents one mile south of Rossville, 
six miles from Chattanooga and thirty-six from Bridgeport. 
Rossville is named in honor of John Ross, the Indian chief. 
Quite an honor it is, for it contained just three houses, two of 
which were of logs. 

Having had none too much to eat during the last two days, 
the men began looking around for something good, and found a 
large vineyard about a mile further south, where all feasted on 
ripe grapes and took some to camp, of which they made wine. 
This was drank before it arrived at great age. The division includ- 
ing our Battery found so much forage that soon chickens, pigs, 
quarters of beef, sweet potatoes, etc., were pouring into camp in a 
continuous string, but this state of things could not last forever. 
Near dark a patrol was sent out to bring in all who might be 
caught with forage. So now all loads coming in had a bayonet to 
guard them. However, we were satisfied. 

On the next day our teams were sent back for the knapsacks. 
Colonel Reid received orders from headquarters to report at Nash- 
ville for duty, and Col. Mitchell, of the 113th Ohio, took command 
of the brigade. Gen. Steadman now commanded the division, and 
the Battery was inspected by him on the 16th. 

Dame Rumor had it that Rosecrans had the enemy bagged 
and that we were being hurried up to prevent his escape through 
Lookout Valley. We expected every day to see the enemy, 
unarmed, come marching in, en-route for the rear. During the 
16th, however, this delusion began to wear away, and we thought 
that u Joe" must have been correct when he predicted there was 
likely to be a hole in the bag. 

At 2:30 A. M., of the 17th, the reveille was sounded, and by 
4:30 we were in motion. The force consisted of our brigade and 
two regiments from another brigade. Gen. Steadman commanded 
in person. We went a short distance on the Graysville road; 
then turned back into the road leading to Ringgold. The right 
section was kept at the head of the column. About noon the bri- 
gade entered a narrow valley on the left of the road, and lay quiet, 
waiting for the few cavalry of the general's guard to scout around. 



< BICK Wt \l ■(. \ CAMPAIGN. 81 

While lying there we suffered much for water. The intense heat 
of the almosl perpendicular rays of the sun was so great tli.it the 
shade of the trees afforded little relief . About :? P. M. we again 
entered the main road, but had proceeded onl] a short distance be- 
fore we met the rebel pickets. There was a large springa few rods 
ahead, which we wished to reach, that we might get water to 
quench our thirst. The rebels informed us that if we wanted it 
we must tight for it. "Thai we will.'" said Gen. Steadman. 
" Growler" was just passing the general-; he was going ahead to 
find water, not knowing that the enemy held the spring. The 
genera] stopped him. "' I want to get some water," said he. " Yes, 
but we must fight to get it." said the general. "Then let as 
tight." replied "Growler." "That we will, my man. Blow stand 
to arms." said the general, turning to his bugler, who. by the way. 
was the best bugler we met with in the army. 

Slowly the line of battle advanced. Our right section was 
again up to the front. A few shots were fired from each side, a few 
wounded sent back in the ambulances, and we had gained not only 
the spring hut Chickamauga Creek. Gen. Steadman had no orders 
to cross this, the movement being intended only to serve as a 
reconnoissance, hut the east hank was so high as to entirely obscure 
the extended view to he had from its summit. Therefore, on his 
own responsibility, he crossed with [tart of his command and 
ascended the hill. From there he could plainly see the enemy to 
the east of Ringgold, nearly a mile distant. The general ordered 
the right section up. and directed it to open on the rebels. The 
rebels replied with a section of artillery, hut did not reach us. We 
tired hut seven rounds ami withdrew. The general noticed a large 
cloud of dust to the north, ami. thinking it might he a column 
sent out to cut off our retreat, thought it best to he moving toward 
Etossville. The enemy followed us for some distance, occasionally 
tiring a shot to which our infantry would reply. Our left section 
brought up the rear, but had no occasion to anlimber. Just at 
dark we camped on the west side of ami near Peavine Creek The 
fences near by had soon changed position, and our camp was in a 
few minutes all ablaze. Our supper was eaten, ami many were 
already enjoying a sou ad sleep, when at ten o'clock, those who 
were awake saw a large flash of light a few rods east of the deck. 
and following it came a blazing shell, accompanied l>\ a terrific 
-hip. The shell passed harmlessl} by, asdid another, and another. 



82 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

The fourth one exploded near the muzzle of the gun, but the fifth 
and last passed over us and struck near the house used for head- 
quarters. Just at this instant there were several musket shots heard 
near the rebel guns and all was quiet there. At camp the first shot 
had wakened all who were asleep, and the first command given was 
''Lights out, 11 and soon the fires were extinguished. The infantry 
fell in and were soon in the road leading to Rossville. The order 
was given to our Battery to harness and hitch up. We hitched up as 
fast as possible, but before we were ready to move out of the mesh 
of fruit trees and vines, among which the Battery was camped, we 
heard the command, "Halt, 11 come from the direction of the road v 
and waited to see what next would be ordered. " Halt, 11 again 
reached our ears, and in the well-known, husky tones of Gen. 
Steadman, and it was evident that he w T as not satisfied, for, " Who 
in hell commands who here? 11 was asked, and in a manner and tone 
that suddenly brought the column to a standstill. In vain the 
general tried to learn who had ordered the retrograde move. He 
soon had the infantry back to their camp ground and all quiet. 
He ordered us to put our section of rifles ( the center ) in position 
to bear upon the spot whence the enemy had fired, and to reply 
immediately should thev open again. As they did not, we passed 
the remainder of the night in quiet, but few remaining awake to 
watch, but this had not passed off without some amusing incidents 
that in future time would cause a smile in recalling that night 
attack. Christie, our venerable comrade, could not think of mov- 
ing without his pipe being lit and in use, and so, before leaving 
camp, he must light his pipe from the yet live embers. As he did so, 
some one wishing sport accused him of trying to make a light that 
the enemy might see where we lay. As was anticipated, he denied 
it with much warmth at the time and for a long while afterwards. 
So, never could we narrate the incident of that night without making 
most prominent among them, " Lights out, Who in hell commands 
who here? 11 and "Christie trying to show the rebels where to fire.' , 

It was reported the general had said next morning, " I 
had intended to start early enough to take breakfast in Rossville, 
but they shan't hurry me. I'll take my own time now. 11 

We started at seven o'clock the next morning, the 18th, the 
center section bringing up the rear. 

We reached Rossville at noon, and well for us it was that we 
were no longer on the road, for the rebels had sent a heavy column 



CHICKAMAUGA I LMPAIGN. 83 

around to cut off our retreat. At Rossville we found that a mili- 
tary wire had been stretched during our absence. This wire con- 
sisted of seven fine wires twisted together and coated with India 
rubber, making it about the size of common telegraph wire, but 
much lighter. It had these advantages: It could be easily trans- 
ported on account of its Lightness, could be stretched in any place 
without the support of post-, and could be used during all kinds 
of weather. For all its superiority for military purposes, we never 
knew any but Gen. Rosecrans to use it. 

At 3 1'. M. two brigades started out as the rebels were reported 
near. At 6 1*. M. our brigade started. We went about eight 
miles on the LaFayette road and halted at ten o'clock. 

There were two rebel camps near by, one on cither side, the 
fires of which could be plainly seen. We made \m little noise 
during the night, and early in the morning of the L9th our 
pickets met the rebels, and bullets soon began to whiz through 
camp. We went into position on the west side of the road, with 
guns pointing westward, but the bullets soon came so fast from 
the east that we changed position to the east side of the road and 
were ready to receive them from that direction. It soon became 
■evident that our place was not there, and the retreat was ordered. 
The enemy followed closely, and skirmishing continued until near 
Mission Ridge. We reached Rossville at 10 A. M. 

Among the prisoners taken were some of Longstreet's head- 
quarters hand. The-e assured us that Longstreef had twenty 
thousand and that they were at Ringgold at the time we -helled 
them (on Thursday) and when told that our force there consisted 
of only our Battery and six regiments, they pronounced it a good 
joke for twenty thousand of the Bower of the rebel army to be attacked 
by about three thousand Yankees. They also gave us the consoling 
I ? » assurance that within three days our army would he cut to pieces 
and made prisoners and by two week- they would have retaken 
Tennessee and he iii Kentucky! We, of course, laughed at the idea. 
for we yet imagined ourselves by far the stronger army. 

A- soon as could he done, after getting into camp, rations 
were issued, for all were beginning to feel hunger, having barely 
received enough the daj before for that day. Each man tin- day 

drew three spoonfuls of sugar, one ounce of coffee, olle ounce o) 
tei. one pound of bacon and hard tact to match. 



84 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

Cannonading could be beard all day to tbe east and southeast. 
Rumors were flying tbick and fast. At first our forces were 
victorious and bad captured most of tbe rebel army. Then the 
enemy had badly cut up a portion of ours, etc., etc. At 3 P. M. 
we were ordered to the front. We went out on the Ringgold road, 
trotting and galloping nearly the whole time, till we reached 
McAfee's Church, four miles from Rossville. Here we found the 
18th Ohio Battery; they had been engaged and had two killed and 
two wounded. Our left and center sections were immediately 
placed in position in the woods on their left, to be ready to aid 
them in case of another advance of the enemy, which they (the 
18th Ohio) predicted would immediately take place. Our right 
section, under Lieut. Burton, took position about half a mile to 
the right, and near a large sweet potato patch, which it is needless 
to say they did not attempt to carry away, but what they did 
with the potatoes is quite different. Our position was on the 
extreme left of the army. Just at dusk a very large flock of 
buzzards came flying along: they remained several minutes, sail- 
ing slowly over that part of the field, and though we knew that at 
that moment none of us were ready for their work, still we could 
not banish a feeling similiar to that which the sailor experiences 
when he sees a shark following tbe vessel. The night seemed very 
cold to us as we lay upon the bare ground, and were not allowed 
fires, lest the enemy should see where we lay, and our blankets 
w r ere quite insufficient to keep us warm. At day-break the ground 
was found to be white with frost, and the sweet potato vines were 
all killed. We could not understand how this could be in Georgia 
at that season. But. as we were afterwards told by a southern 
lady, " \ nu Yankees are such icebergs," we suppose it was due to 
there being so many blue coats present. 



CHAPTER XII. 



At seven o'clock on the morning of Sunday, the 20th of 
September, our left and center sections advanced toward the east, 
with the infantry. After going about a mile, and meeting no 
enemy, we returned to a house uear our former position. The 
right section closed up and Quartermaster Sergeant Murphy was 
placed in command of the caissons. 

\\ c were quietly enjoying some shade trees around the house, 
after having assisted t he family to load such things as a one ox-team 
could haul, when, at nine o'clock, it seemed all the artillery of the 
heavens had concentrated and opened on a point about a mile east 
and south, with one long continuous roar, makiug the earth fairly 
tremble where we lay, and then it grew less, till we could hear 
only the steady roll of musketry. 

At ten o'clock we moved about two miles to the south and 
east, and took position with the lMh Ohio Battery in a corn field. 
Some men could be seen walking around a house to the east, hut 
whether they were friend or foe was a matter of debate. How- 
ever, the 18th decided they were rebs and sent them a tew rounds. 
We limbered up. moved on about a mile further, passing l>\ a rebel 
hospital that our forces had just captured. During the next halt 
we could see a long column of cavalry and at its head what was 
declared to he the identical gray horse that had made itself so con- 
spicuous at Triune on the 1 lth id' dune. This was Stearns 1 rebel 
cavalry. A- Gren. Granger rode by, his attention was called to 
them, hut he thought the} were our own. ('apt. Russell pro- 
nounced them rebels. We followed on after the general, and. mi 
emerging from a strip of timber into an open field, were greeted 
by -nine shells from a rebel battery near where we had seen the 
cavalry. We took position on a low rise of -round, to our left, 
and replied. The rebel battery was behind some trees so that we 
could not discover it-exact position; their shells continued to come 



86 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

nearer and nearer; and our fire in reply did not appear to have any 
effect on the enemy. Some of their shells and solid shot would 
strike just in front of our guns, and rieochetting, pass far to the 
rear. A number passed through the columns of our infantry,, 
which on the double quick, was hurrying past the rear of our posi- 
tion through a hollow which to a slight extent sheltered their 
passage. Gillette remained on his horse among the guns, and 
with reluctance dismounted, when ordered to do so the second time 
by Lieut. Burton. Scarcely had he got to his horse's head when a 
solid shot passed through the horse's body at a point where, bad 
Gillette still been mounted, it must certainly have taken off both 
his legs. About this time there came a shell over us from the 
right. Several followed it, but were too high to do any damage. 
Gen. Gordon Granger now rode up, and, dismounting, sighted No. 
5 piece two or three times. At one time a shell passed so near his 
head as to make him dodge very suddenly. Seeing we could do 
nothing there, he ordered us to limber up and to follow him, for 
"he had work for us to do." As we moved on, the rebels continued 
to throw their shells very near. We afterwards learned we were 
the fourth battery that had been engaged at this point and all 
with the same result. 

We halted a short time at a burning house near the "Snod- 
grass place," having formed column of sections, and faced to the 
right (south). 

At twelve o'clock we moved forward into the woods, and up a 
gradual ascent, but had advanced only a few rods ere we received a 
broadside of bullets from the left and front. The infantry, that 
were marching by our side, faced to the left and charged on the 
charging enemy. Our lines steadily advanced causing the rebels 
to halt in surprise. Gen. Steadman. who was then directing the 
Battery to a position, discovered what our infantry were doing, 
and. dashing after them at full speed, screamed out "Halt! For 
God's sake, halt!" But it was impossible to hear him in that din 
of musketry. Forcing his way to the front, and catching the 
leading colors with one hand, his hat in the other, he managed to 
halt them. They fell back to our Battery in good order. We 
immediately took a position commanding a gorge near "Snodgrass 
place," through which the enemy were attempting to pass. The 
infantry had already formed line; but all of them were on our 
left, thus leaving us with no right flank protection. On came the 



CHK KAM All. \ ( AMI'.Ul.N. 81 

rebels, fairly drowning the battle's din with their hideous yells. 
As they gained the top of the nearest hill, a few rods off, we poured 
•canister into them, mowing a broad swath at each discharge. 
They fell back, formed and advanced again. Again we thinned 
theirranks. Again they fell back. During the calm thai followed, 
the left and center sections took a better position a short distance 
to the rear, ami the 121st Ohio supported ns. Our lines were so 

Long as to give ns but line of infantry. The Battery was so 

divided as to compel each section to act independent of the others. 
Soon tlic rebels returned to the attack, charging up even nearer 
than before, but <>nl\ to lose the more, as we double-sjiotted our 
guns with canister and reserved our fire till they were at close 
•quarters. The enemy then brought up some artillery, but, after 
firing several rounds, found it could do no good without endanger- 
ing his own men. so it ceased firing. 

Sharpshooters near by had been causing us some trouble, and 
Lieut. Kluskev's attention was called to them. Sunn a puff of 
smoke was noticed in the top of a tree in the direction whence 
the bullets came. One of the guns sent a charge of canister into 
the top of said tree, and we were troubled no more by sharp- 
shooters at that time. 

The ri^ht section, after assisting in repulsing five charges, 
was ordered to move back from the line, and to take another posi- 
tion, but, after waiting a short time, and not being assigned to a 
position, was ordered by Lieut. Burton to return to it- old posi- 
tion, and to hold it till further orders. They resumed theirformer 
position ami held it during the charges which followed. Our 
infantry countercharged several times that afternoon and captured 
a number of prisoner- and one or two flags. The prisoners, as 
they were brought in. would look around and inquire where we 
had oui- line of battle, and when told that the} there saw our 
whole force, were incredulous, declaring that so few men could 
not repulse a whole division so often. They declared that their 
division id' Longstreet's corps had never charged a battery before 
Ours that it had not taken. 

It was now approaching night; a staff officer passed alone- the 

line, notifying t] fficers that at the sound of the bugle (retreat 

call ) the army would fall hack a short distance from the line. 
The enemy was forming with heavy line- tor another charge. Our 
line was arrowing so thin it seemed as if it must give way before it, 



88 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

but as the rebels had been repulsed at this point so often, our men- 
were confident they could not break through. The guns were in 
position, each gun double-shotted with canister and another round 
of the same in the gunner's haversack for instant use. Soon the 
rebels came again, this time with redoubled fury. All was quiet 
save the yells of the enemy. Our fire was reserved until they were 
so close as to be able to recognize an acquaintance, had there been 
one there, when our Battery opened on them at short range, throw- 
ing them into disorder. The infantry then delivered a volley, 
holding them in check, and with the second round of double canis- 
ter from the Battery, they broke for the rear, our infantry again 
taking many prisoners. We then fell back to a high hill a short 
distance to the rear, Avhere we found a strong line of infantry 
lying behind a low line of breastworks, hastily built by piling up 
stones. Here we halted till the Battery was together, when we 
descended, by locking both hind wheels, into the Dry Valley road 
at the base of the hill. Sixteen of our horses had been killed, and 
many wounded, so that several pieces were almost without any. 
No. 6 caisson was hauled up this steep hill with one span of horses, 
driven by one of the detailed men. One of the wheel horses, of No. 
5 gun, came off on only three feet, one of his hind feet hanging 
by a shred of skin. 

It seemed that none, save one or two of us, thought of dan- 
ger or defeat, and we should have stood by our guns even longer 
than we did had we not received orders to fall back. Our section 
commanders, one and all, together with the acting chief of cais- 
sons, conducted themselves so well as to call forth from us renewed 
admiration, and cause us to more highly esteem them. Our whole 
Battery seemed to have well pleased Gen. Steadman. for he ever 
after styled us, " My Battery,' 1 and associated alike with the officers 
and men. 

The following is a partial list of our casualties: 

Henry Rennau was shot through the body; he died upon the 
field; his body was placed upon one of the gun carriages and 
carried to Rossville. 

Lee Phillips, shot through the body and died upon the field, 
and his body was carried on one of the gun carriages to Rossville. 

John Nations, a member of the 78th Illinois, who had formerly 
been connected with the Battery by detail, but had some time 



CHICKAM \l rQ \ CAMP Won. 89 

since returned to his company, was found to be mortally wounded; 
he was placed on one of the caissons and carried to Rossville, where 
he died during the ni-, r lit. 

Joseph Hansell, wounded severely in the thigh. 

Ellis K. .Mercer, wounded severely in the thigh. 

Charles J. Clute, wounded severely in the neck. 

.lames B. Drake, wounded severely in the knee. 

Joseph Proctor, wounded slightly in the forehead. 

James E. Harding, wounded slightly in the side. 

Richard Hamilton, wounded slightly in the side. 

August Schnasse, Josiah X. Barr, John B. Colby and hank- 
mar Alder, were each slightly wounded. 

George Lissenden was thrown some distance and his back 
sprained by grasping the trail just as the gun was tired, thus 
receiving the full shock of the recoil. 

James Coslett, fool badly mashed by the trail sliding over it 
during the recoil of the gun. 

Of the detailed men with us. two were killed and several were 
wounded. We have no list of them, as their names do uot appear 
on our muster rolls. 

Lieut. Burton had two horses killed under him; each of our 
other lieutenants had a horse shot under him, and Orderly Gillette 
had his second one killed while carrying orders. 

(){' narrow escapes there was no limit. 

Dr. Kirk, our surgeon, had not been seen by us during the day, 
but was with the infantry. 

Bill, our contraband, was not without his adventures. A- 
he was hauling us a load of ammunition he accidentally got inside 
the rebel lines. \ very polite rebel officer pointed him the way to 
one of their batteries. " But I couldn't see it.** said Bill, who 
headed his team toward our lines and reached us in safety. 

"Battery," our dog, who had 1 n doing his fighting in con- 
nection with No. 1 gun, would charge out from under the gun 
after the rebels as they neared us. When they came for the last 
time, he charged too soon and was severely scorched on the back 
by the fire of the gun. He immediately reported at the line of 
caissons, and made no more charges that day. 

We reached rlossvilleat 9 P. ML, where we found nearly the 
whole army, but -<> mixed up that it was almost impossible to find 
any particular regiment or battery. We had occasion to search 



90 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

for several as our caissons were l'oaded with wounded from differ- 
ent commands. Rossville was filled with wounded men lying 
upon straw spread upon the ground, the surgeons attending them 
by the light of rail fires and lanterns. When we left the battle- 
field we had not the slightest idea of the true state of affairs, but 
supposed that we were the victors, the rebels having fallen back 
in our front before we had, and did not know of our withdrawal 
till the next morning. We had heard but never knew till then 
how worn out both man and beast are after an engagement. We 
were almost lifeless, and so appeared our animals. But, though 
we mourned the loss of our comrades killed and wounded, yet it was 
some satisfaction to know there were none left on the field. We 
had brought our guns off the field. We fired 360 rounds of canis- 
ter, and 276 of spherical case. We fought from noon till dusk, 
and while hundreds of the infantry had fallen on either side, and 
among our guns, our own loss seemed miraculously small. When 
we think of the loss other batteries sustained, who were not nearly 
so hotly engaged, we cannot recall that day without a feeling of 
thankfulness, and a shudder at the thought of how much worse it 
could have been for us. But as that day, so there appeared 
throughout our soldier life to be a charm around us in all dangers 
in which we were exposed. We doubt if there was a company in 
any branch of the service which, for as many engagements and 
the same exposure and hazard at the front, can show a smaller list 
of casualties. 

Gen. Halleck, in his " Official Report of the War" of 1863 
thus treats of that portion of the field we were on on the after- 
noon of the 20th. Fixing the hour a little later than was the case, 
he says: 

u About 3:30 P. M. the enemy discovered a gap in the hills 
in the rear of his (Gen. Thomas) right flank, and Longstreet com- 
menced pouring his massive columns through the opening. At 
this critical moment Major Gen. Gordon Granger, who had been 
posted with his reserves to cover our left and rear, arrived upon the 
field. He knew nothing of the condition of the battle, but, with 
the true instinct of a soldier, he had inarched to the sound of the 
cannon. Gen. Thomas merely pointed out to him the gap through 
which the enemy were debouching, when, quick as thought, he 
threw upon it Steadman's division of infantry. In the words of 
Gen. Rosecrans' official report, 'Swift was the charge and terrible 



CHICKAMAUGA CAMPAIGN. ( .tl 

the conflict, l»ut the enemy was broken. 1 A thousand of our brave 
men killed and wounded paid for its possession, bul we held the 
gap. Two divisions of Longstreet's corps confronted the position. 
Determined to take it, the) successively came to the assault. A 
battery of six guns placed in t7u gorg< poured death and 
slaughter into tli em. They charged within a fev» yards of the 
pieces, but our grape and canister and the leaden bail of musketry, 
delivered in sparing but terrible volleys from cartridges, taken in 
many instances from the boxes of their fallen companions, was too 
much even for Longstreet's men. Aliont sunset they made their 
last charge, when our men, being out of ammunition, rushed on 
them with the bayonet, and they gave wa) to return no more." 

All who fought on thai part of the field, know that Batter} 
M. 1st Illinois, was the battery thai occupied that gap and is the 
one alluded to above. It is the only battery referred to in that 
year's report. 

Not wishing to claim honors with such vague proof as the 
above, we here insert a couple of letters. 

In reply to a question asked him, Gen. Rosecrans says on 
January 30th, 1866: " I am sorry to have forgotten whose battery 
it was which stood in the gap on the right on the afternoon of the 
20th at Chickamauga, nor have I the papers for reference. I re- 
member well it was supported by Banning's Ohio regiment." To 
the question, " Whose battery did your regiment support on the 
afternoon of the 20th at Chickamauga?" Col. Banning replies: "\ 
take pleasure in saying thai on the last day of the battle, the 20th, 
we supported Mattery M. Lsi Illinois Light Artillery, then known 
as Spencer's battery. It was the last batter) of ours to leave that 
bloody field, except those left iii the hands of the enemy, and was 
the only battery upon that part of the field where my regiment 
(121st Ohio) fought. The gallantry of the officers and men of 
Batter) M upon that da) was so conspicuous t hat the men of my 
regiment ever afterward, when they goi into a hard fight, would 
wish for Spencer'- battery. The official report of my regimeni 
contains a statement of the part taken by your Battery. ' In the 
absence of a copy of that report, we will proceed with our Battery - 
movements. 

We slept little on the night of the 20th, being called up at 2 
A. M.. on the 21st, to refill our ammunition chests and get our Bat- 
tery in condition to resume the fight. When once astir we found 



92 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

ourselves even more tired and sore than the night before, and it 
was with great pain we moved a limb or used a muscle. As soon 
as it was daylight, wrapping them in their blankets for shroud and 
coffin, and marking their names on cracker box lids to mark their 
graves, we buried our dead comrades near by, that we might not 
be forced to leave them uninterred, should we suddenly be ordered 
to move. About seven o'clock the left section was ordered in front 
of the Rossville Gap. where they remained during the day, or till 
4 P. M. About noon they had occasion to use their guns. The 
rebels advanced their cavalry, but as they reached the gap they 
received such a shower of canister as to make them retreat in haste. 
We then shelled them in the valley below till they with- 
drew out of range for the time. The infantry worked hard all day 
at building works across the valley. Gen. Rosecrans rode through 
the army, cheering the men by kind words, and being loudly 
applauded in return. When he hinted that he might have work 
for his army to do that day, he was greeted with deafening cheers. 
At 1:30 P. M., on account of the firing from the ridge, troops 
were ordered to the support. At three o'clock the right and center 
sections were ordered to the gap. We consolidated our Battery at 
the entrance to the gap and lav there awaiting orders. There 
were several other batteries there, besides many ammunition 
wagons, ambulances, etc., all being crowded into a chaotic mass. 
Meantime the enemy had brought their artillery to bear on the 
gap, and shells began to come over the ridge and strike uncomfort- 
ably near us. We had several batteries on the top of the ridge, and 
they were pouring shell into the maneuvering foe as fast as they 
could get it carried to them. All not 'otherwise engaged assisted 
in carrying ammunition up the hill. Ammunition was taken from 
any battery that chanced to have the required kind. We contrib- 
uted considerable. One of our men. who was engaged in handing 
ammunition to the carriers, was thought to be cowardty and afraid 
to go to the front by a "sardine box," who was making himself very 
conspicuous by loudly ordering the men. swearing at and threaten- 
ing any one who chanced to displease him. When he saw our man 
handing the ammunition to another instead of carrying it to the 
front, he drew his sword and swore he would cut him down. After 
he was made to understand that the man whom he was threaten- 
ing was outside his pale of power, he sheathed his sword and rode 
away to vent his courage on others. As the rebel shell began to 



CHICKAMAUGA CAMPAIGN. 93 

strike upon the ridge, the l^th Regulars, who were on the skirmish 
lint', broke and ran through their support down the hill side and 
did not stop till at the foot of the ridge, and some, uot even then. 
A.s one was running past us, he was asked what was the matter 
withhim; " I have lost my ramrod," said he, still running. "Here's 
one" called "lit one of our men who had just picked one up. "But 
in \ luck is broken," replied the regular, and lit- was soon out of 
talking distance. 

At 5 P. .M. we were ordered, by General Rousseau, back to the 
west side of Chattanooga Creek to camp, and by this means our 
own immediate commander lost track of our whereabouts. 

During the night of the 21st we could hear wagons and 
troops continually passing our camp, but supposed they were 
either guards or reinforcements, and did not even notice the direction 
in which they were moving. 

The morning of the 22d dawned bright and beautiful, and all 
was so pleasant and calm that one could not realize how much 
death and suffering there had been, and was then, in that region. 
Fully enjoying this charming morning we very leisurely fed our 
horses, and cooked and despatched our breakfast. At length we 
noticed there was no one passing in either direction, and wondered 
at it. We also noticed that a large wagon-train, that had been 
parked near by us at dark, was nowhere to be seen. Also various 
small bodies of troops in the distance, all marching in the direct ion 
of I Ihattanooga. A cavalry officer, passing by our camp, was asked 
by us as to the condition at the front. "The front ? Why you are 
far in advance of the front ! There is not a man outside of this !" 
He then told us that all the troops hail been withdrawn during tin' 
night except a part of a company of the 78th Illinois, whom he 
supposed captured, as he could not find them. He urged us to 
make all haste in getting back to Chattanooga, as the rebels were 
doubtless then advancing. This startling condition of affairs rather 
aroused us from our enjoyment ot that beautiful morning, and it 
is needless to say, we were soon in motion to a more healthy region. 

We arrived at Chattanooga at ten A. M. on the 22d. On tl ven- 

ing oi the 20th Bragg had reported to his government and the 
newspapers throughout the world had repeated "my cavalry i- pur- 
suing the tor." The above shows that the horses of the pursuing 
cavalry could not have been verj fleet-footed. 



94 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

As this day really closed the Chickamauga Campaign, so we 
will close our chapter, and in doing so we know of nothing more 
fitting as a finale to that great contest, than 



GEN. ROSECRANS CONGRATULATORY ORDER. 



Headcpuarters Dept. of the Cumberland. 
Orders No. 3. 

Army of the Cumberland : You have made a grand and 
successful campaign. You have driven the rebels from Middle 
Tennessee. You have crossed a great mountain range, placed your- 
selves on the banks of a broad river, crossed it in the face of a 
powerful, opposing army, and crossed two other great mountain 
ranges at the only practical passes some forty miles between ex- 
tremes. You concentrated in the face of superior numbers, fought 
the combined armies of Bragg, which you drove from Shelbyville 
to Tullahoma. of Johnston's army from Mississippi, and the tried 
veterans of Longstreet's corps, and for two days held them at bay, 
giving them blow for blow with heavy interest. When the day 
closed you held the field from which you withdrew in the face of 
overpowering numbers to occupy the point for which you set out 
— Chattanooga. 

You have accomplished the work of the campaign. You hold 
the key of East Tennessee, of North Georgia, and the enemy's 
mines of coal and nitre. 

Let these achievements console you for the regret you experi- 
ence that arrivals of fresh, hostile troops forbade you remaining 
upon the field to renew the battle: for the right of burying your 
gallant dead, and caring -for your brave companions who lay 
wounded on the field. The losses you have sustained, though 
heavy, are slight considering the odds against you and the stake 
you have won. 

You hold in your hands the substantial fruits of a victory, and 
deserve and will receive, the honors and plaudits of a grateful 
nation, which asks nothing, of even those who have been fighting us, 
but obedience to the constitution and laws established for our own 
common benefit. 

The general commanding earnestly begs every officer and 
soldier of this army to unite with him in thanking Almighty God 
for His favors to us. He presents his hearty thanks and congratu- 
lations to all the officers and soldiers of his command for their 
energy, patience and perseverence and the undaunted courage dis- 
played by those who fought with such unflinching resolution. 



CHICKAMAUQ \ ( \Ml' \1<;\\ 95 

Neither the history of this war nor probably the annals of 
any Wattle furnish a loftier example of obstinate braverj and endur- 
ing resistance to superior numbers when troops, having exhausted 
their ammunition, resorted to the bayonel nian\ times to hold 
their position against such odds as did our left ami center, com- 
prising troops of all the corps, on the afternoon of the 20th of 
September, at the battle of Chickamauga. 

\Y. S. EtoSECRANS, 

Major ( ieneral < lommanding. 



CHAPTER XIII. 



Reaching Chattanooga, we found the troops working with all 
their might in building breastworks, forts and bomb-proofs. The 
Battery halted near an old packing-house that the rebels had used 
during their stay, but which our beef contractors were now filling 
up with hides and bones, there not being flesh enough on the 
animals they slaughtered to make mention of. Scarcely had we 
been halted there, at ten o'clock, before the rebels began to shell 
our men at work on the fortifications. Surely we had providen- 
tially escaped capture! 

So much terror had the rebel shells in their "' Whar-is-ye, 
whar-is-ye," that the cooks and "dog robbers 1 ' immediately rushed 
for the pontoons to effect a crossing and secure safety back at 
Stevenson ; but the guards were instructed to allow no one to cross, 
and consequently there was soon quite a little army of those who 
"had business with the wagons over there 11 standing at the end of 
the bridge and almost praying to be allowed to cross. 

A sutler — one of the greatest curses to an army when allowed 
to do as he pleases — had halted his Wagon near our Battery, which 
was near Gen. Steadman's headquarters, and was selling poor cheese 
at the modest price of two dollars per pound and other articles in 
proportion! The general, becoming aware of it, came out in great 
wrath and ordered him to sell no more at such prices, or he would 
have his wagon opened to the soldiers, and that sixty cents per 
pound for cheese was sufficient. This manifestation of the general's 
sympathy for the soldiers greatly strengthened the love and respect 
Ave had for him. although we had already nearly reached the ne 
plus ultra in our love and esteem for him. 

At 5 P. M. the Battery moved to a lot on Walnut Street, then 
occupied by a daguerreotypist's tent, which w;is speedily removed? 



CHICKAMAUGA CAMPAIGN. l .l"; 

and we camped on the ground. The men retired early, as they had 
not yet recovered from the fatigue of Chickamauga. At LO P. M.. 
as we were calmly enjoying our rest, all were suddenly awakened 
by men running over us ami uttering stifled cries of alarm. A 
noise, as of the sweeping of a hurricane in its firs! approach, came 
from the top of the hill, h was troops, cavalry advancing, down 
from the hill past Rosecrans 1 headquarters and in the direction 
of us! Some of us sprang to our feet, uol from fear, however, 
being well aware that m> force of the enenn could reach that 
point without hundreds of them being slain by our artillery that 
was scattered along the whole front from river to river. We say 
immediately they were union troop-., and learned that they had 
just been to headquarters with despatches. There were about a 
hu adred of them. 

On the 23d the brigade moved to the grave-yard on the east 
side of the town. We were placed at the foot of the small hill 
on which most of the grave-yard is, so as to receive the benefit of 
it- shelter. Gen. Steadman remained with us day and night, 
mingling freely with the men, narrating his military experience, 
and offering such hints as he thought might be of service to the 
infantry or to us. He highly praised his division's doings during 
the late battle. 

The Johnnies had shelled our forces freely all this time, tit 
which we had replied hut little, as our works were not thought suffi- 
ciently strong to warrant an artillery duel, to he followed most 
probably h\ a charge from the enemy. At one time all the 
wagons were sent aero— the river, and it was firmly believed we 
were going to evacuate, hut tin' place was held and the nation 
knows the suffering and starvation endured ly it > defenders as 
well as it can he explained or described on paper. 

On the 24th it was resolved to speak to our foe. At:') A. M. 
a heavy gun was fired as a signal, and ini mediately all our art tilery, 
then in position, opened and continued to lire until live o'clock 
without receiving any response. Our work- were now quite for- 
midable, hut to strengthen them, or to make the test of their 
strength less in case of an attack, a telegraph wire was stretched 
a hoi it eight inches from the ground, and a two rods outside the moat. 
At lo |'. M.. that night, we had to ha rue-- up. a- several volleys of 
musketn were fired; hut a- nothing more was donesave out artille- 
rv u'ivinu a few silencing rounds, all turned in again at 1 i :80. 



98 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

Our wounded of the late battle suffered fully as much as did 
those from other commands, as they were under the same treat- 
ment, which treatment was to let each man take care of himself, 
if he was able; if not, to get his friends to do it. There was 
nothing at Chattanooga to at all comfort the wounded, and they 
were shipped back to Stevenson in ambulances, mule wagons or on 
foot, according to each man's condition, as rapidly as possible. 
From there they were sent to Nashville by rail. 

At 1 P. M., on the 25th, we crossed the river at the lower 
pontoon, and after much roundabout zigzagging, took position on 
Stringer's Ridge, leaving the left section near the Stevenson road 
over the hill, and the others occupying the ground where Wilder's 
battery had stood when it shelled the town. One of Wilder's 
shells entered the church that was afterwards used as post chapel. 
Near the mark it left is this couplet, written on the wall: 

" This hole was made 
On Wilder's raid." 

The infantry erected only feeble works, as it was thought 
there would never be occasion for using them. On this ridge we 
were three-quarters of a mile from water, and to get it to our camp, 
must descend and climb this hill, which was quite as much as a 
man wished to do when untrammeled with any load. Our rations 
soon began to fall even shorter than they had been for the three 
previous weeks, and we called the hill " Starve Ridge," a name that 
it was known by thereafter throughout the army. 

On the 25th our knapsacks arrived — that is, such as were to be 
found were brought up, which was about half of those left at 
Bridgeport. Nearly every one had been rifled of its most valuable 
contents, such as gold pens, revolvers, etc., etc. New overcoats, 
pants and jackets we had left in them were also missing. 

On the 26th Dr. Kirk left us and turned over his medicinal 
stores to Lieut. Fluskey, who was now, by recent orders of the war 
department, Battery quartermaster. 

On the 28th the horses got their first taste of grain since the 
battle, they having had nothing but dried cornstalks to eat since 
that time. As for ourselves, our rations had been cut down to 
nine crackers for three days. Every soldier knows there is a 
material difference between nine crackers for three days and three 
crackers for one day, for when he draws such small rations for 



CHK KAMA! o \ I WW \K,N. 99 

several days at mire, he is apt to eat tliem all long before he draws 
more, and consequently he goes hungry the rest of the time. 

A.t 3 P. M., on the 28th, the left section, under Lieut. Flus- 
key, was sent to Brown's Ferry, about three miles by road from 
camp. They buili a small fort to protect them from bullets fired 
by the rebel pickets mi the opposite side. Captain Spencer returned 

to us mi the afternoon of the 29th. \u\ i coming from ••Hud's 

Country 11 was always beset by questions from one and all, and we 
were soon around our new captain, wanting to know all he could 
tell us about home. 

The autumn rains set in about this time with right good will, 
and the roads were soon quite impassable in many places entirely 
so so that the road to Bridgeport, instead id' being about thirty 
miles, was lengthened to over sixty. All our supplies were received 
from there, being transported in mule wagons. There being so 
little forage, the teams were rapidly decimating from starvation 
and overwork, and added to this the occasional capture, by the 
enemy, of an entire train id' several hundred wagons, it i- not to he 
wondered at that we often went to bed hungry. Our Battery 
teams were -cut to the north, up through Sequatchie Valley, some- 
times going sixty miles before they could find corn enough to half 
till the wagon boxes a half load being all a team could haul. A 
few pumpkins were always smuggled in. ami these, with the com 
we would take from the horses, notwithstanding orders to the con- 
trary, hid] >ed much to supply the deficiency in rations. We had uever 
known what hunger was till now. There was a constant cra\ ing of 
the appetite even if we had just eaten a hearty meal, for it was felt 
there was nothing in -tore, hence the hankering for food. 

On the 1st of October Capt. Aylshire inspected our horses to 
see which ones were poor enough to send back to Stevenson to 
recuperate. There were e igh - i as to lea\ ily four to a car- 
riage. The condemned horses, with a sufficient number of men to 
care for them, were sent off on the 3d. 

On the night of the \<\. orders were received to march with 

the brigade, hut only the infantry went. The cause of these 
orders was the capture and burning of a large wagon train by the 
rebels, the infantry being sent to escort the few. who escaped, to 
camp. On the 3d, Jacob Premer returned \vo\i\ hospital. 

At dark, on the Ith. the center section received orders to 
march, but after getting read} to move, the order was counter- 



100 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

manded; yet the next morning - the order was renewed, and they 
left at 6 A. M., commanded by Lieut. Burton. The infantry had 
built two small works on the side of Starve Ridge, and about three- 
quarters of a mile down the river from our camp. To these semi- 
forts the guns of the center section were taken. The position 
could not be reached from the valley below, so the only way to get 
the guns there was to let them down from above. But this was a 
very hard task. The ridge at one point rose to quite a mountain. 
This had to be ascended so as to reach a point above the forts. A 
road had to be made, and then it was so steep that ten horses could 
not pull a gun up; we had to unlimber and haul the parts up by 
hand. Once up, the road was good till directly above the forts. 
Now the guns must be lowered two hundred feet almost perpendicu- 
larly; all the prolonges were brought up and spliced. Fastening 
them to the trail of a gun. it was allowed to slowly descend by 
letting the rope slip around a tree. Gun 3 was put into the upper 
fort and met with no mishap; but the combined ropes were not 
long enough to let gun 4 to its fort, and in running the 
remainder of the distance, it tipped over and broke a wheel. The 
forts were christened by us, Forts High and Low. The caissons 
and horses were kept at the foot of the ridge about one hundred 
and fifty feet below the guns and within five rods of the river's 
edge. They were about half a mile from Moccasin Point, and so 
sheltered in that direction by the ridge as to be in no danger from 
the rebel shells fired over the point. Shortly after they got there 
the Paint Rock, a steamer captured from the rebels, made her trial 
trip after being repaired by us. As she neared the forts it was 
noticed she was trying to turn so as to ascend the river again. 
She made several attempts, but at each attempt fell down much 
further till she was in range of the rebel guns on Lookout. 
Breathlessly she was watched to see if she would not be sunk by 
their shells, but they did not fire — doubtless expecting she would 
float still further down and become an easy prey. But now she 
heads about and slowly ascends, and as she nears the forts a man 
is seen standing near one of the beams with his hands stretched up 
to their utmost. A rush to the bank to learn the cause. The 
story is soon told. The engineer had been a rebel and was then: 
he wished to let the boat fall into the hands of the enemy. He 
raised the plea of inability to generate steam sufficient to propel 
against the current. An officer on board mistrusted all was not 



CHICK VM \I i. \ I VMl'AKiN. 10] 

right, and took charge of the engines himself, and was soon con- 
quering the current. The rebel was taken on deck and tied up by 
his thumbs. In that position he remained until another engineer 
was secured to take the boat back to the town. We never lea run I 
what was ultimately done with him. 

That afternoon the rebels shelled our forces quite lively, but 
did very little damage. It was a sublime sight to watch t hem from 
the ridge. A puff of smoke from one of their guns, a report, then 
a small circular cloud suddenly expanding to an immense size, com- 
pared to its first appearance, then a haul report from thai direction, 
and finally pieces of shell falling to the earth! All this was grand 
to contemplate from our position, but to those immediately under 
the exploding shell, the scene was not quite so enchanting! 

On the 6th the 21 si and Reserve Corps ceased to exist; part 
was detached to the 1 Ith Corps, and the remainder tunned the new 
4th Corps; the latter to be commanded by Gen. Gordon Granger. 
It was our brigade's lot to be divided, the infantry being put into 
the l'lth Corps, and we into the 3d Brigade, *.M Division of the Ith 
Corps. This brigade consisted of the 3d Kentucky, 24th Wiscon- 
sin, 22d, 27th, 12d, 51st and 79th Illinois. 64th, 65th and I2ls1 
Ohio, and Battery M. 1st Illinois Artillery, and was commanded 
l>\ Col. Harker. The division was commanded by Gen. P. II. 
Sheridan. 

The enemy had greatly pestered our wagon trains as the} 
passed a certain portion of the road that was exposed to the river 
the rebels being on the opposite side among the rocks on the side 
of the mountain near the river. On the I Ith the right section, 
under Lieut. Fluskey, was sent out to see if the rebels could not be 
dislodged. They camped that night at the foot of Waldron's 
Ridge. A.bout daylight next morning they ascended the ridge to 
a position whence they could see the rebels. They fired a few 
shells, but soon discovered that the huge rocks, with which the 
mountain side was covered formed, such a complete protection for 
the rebels that if one should be hit it would only lie accidental. 
On the other hand, the rebels could, unseen, step from behind the 
rocks, and. taking steady aim, greatly imperil our men. who found 
the distance too great for Napoleons, and therefore, moved to a 
point near the bank of the river, and sent them a few rounds of 
case shot. This only called forth a greater number of minnies 
from the rebels. The section then went back to its camp of the 



102 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

night before, and camped for the night, and returned to the Bat- 
tery on the 13th. having fired forty-three rounds. On the road 
back the chests were refilled with ammunition found in a broken- 
down ammunition wagon. 

There was now much speculation as to whom were to be our 
lieutenants, in place of Burton and Fluskey, as soon as they should 
be promoted first lieutenants. There was a desire among the men 
to be their own choosers, so a petition to the captain was drawn up, 
and duly signed and presented, asking for the privilege of electing 
those of our choice. 

The very heavy rains washed away a large portion of each of 
the center section forts, so that they became utterly worthless. 

The rains had so damaged the roads as to require nearly a 
week for our teams to make a trip after forage, and. without the 
addition of what we got to eat from that source, it seemed we 
must famish. Several expedients were resorted to to get food. 
One of these was to get an order from our officers for such rations 
as we needed — we paying for them. But great was the surprise of 
the officers when one morning, after we had just bought a box of 
hard tack, they sent for some, and were told that they had already 
bought a week's allowance! As they were unable to draw any 
more for three days, they were afterwards a little more careful as 
to how and when they gave orders. 

On the night of the 15th the enemy sent a raft of saw-logs 
down the river for the purpose of destroying the pontoons. It was 
discovered in time to save the bridge by cutting it in the middle 
and letting the halves swing around to shore. The greater portion 
of the raft was secured. These logs were much needed at the saw 
mill to make plank for the bridges and for other purposes. 

On the 17th Corp. Clute and Private Coslet received furloughs 
on account of their wounds. 

It was decided by the chief of artillery of the department 
that each battery should have only one kind of gun. We pre- 
ferred Rodmans, and on the 20th Ave exchanged our Napoleons 
with batteries that had Rodmans but wanted Napoleons. The 
same day we received orders to join our brigade on the lines, and as 
fast as we effected the exchanges, moved our sections to the pon- 
toons, to cross. While lying at the pontoons waiting for oppor- 
tunity to cross — there being so many wagons ahead as to delay us 
for several hours — Gen. Rosecrans and staff passed en-route for the 



CHICKAM \li, \ C LMPAIGN. 103 

rear. Little did we dream we should see our beloved chief do 
more in command of that army! No! till the next daj were we 

aware that he had hidden us a final adieu, and thru we could 1 1 < » t 

believe it. but in a few days we received the following, which fully 
proved the truth of the report : 

Headquarters Ihr'i of the Cumberland, i 
Chattanooga, Tenn., Oct. 9, L863. J 

General Order No. 2 I. 

The general commanding announces to tl fficers and 

soldiers of the Army of the Cumberland that he leaves them under 
orders from the president. 

Maj. (ien. Geo. H. Thomas, in compliance with orders, will 
assume command of this army and department. The chiefs of all 
the staff departments will report to him for order-. 

In taking leave of you. his brothers in anus, officers and 
soldiers, he congratulates you that your new commander comes to 

you not as a stranger. Gen. Thomas has I Q identified with this 

army from its first organization. He has led you often in battle. 
To his renown, precedence, dauntless courage, and true patriotism 
you may look with confidence that, under God, he will lead von to 
victory. 

The general commanding doubts not that you will he as true 
to yourselves and your country in the future as you have been in 
the past. 

To the division and brigade commanders, he tenders his cor- 
dial thanks for their valuable and hearty co-operation in all that he 
has undertaken. To the chiefs of staff departments and their 
subordinates, whom he leaves behind, he owes a debt of gratitude 
for their fidelity and untiring devotion to duty. 

Companions in arms, officers and soldiers, farewell, and may 
God bless you. 

\V. S. EtoSEi i; \N>. 

Major i reneral. 

Our friend had left us to return qo more! There areso mam 
instances of his familiarity with the soldiery, that all are aware of 
that great trait of his character. One day he visited t he left section 
at Brown's Ferry. Dismounting, lie walked around among the 
men. speaking cheerfullj with each man as he met him. The re he I 
pickets on the opposite side sent over several bullets, hut he 
appeared not to notice them. 

This Hrinc>- from the rebel side was finally put a stop t<> in the 
following manner. One morning, as a bullet whizzed through 



J04 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

camp, a man stepped to the water's edge and demanded at what the 
rebel was firing. A conversation ensued in which it was agreed 
that neither side should fire without giving warning. Knowing 
our starving condition, they would place pumpkins where we 
could see them, and left a large patch of potatoes in our front 
untouched. The bait was taken. One night some of the 18th 
Ohio men and some infantry crossed over to get them. They were 
allowed to dig a bushel or two of potatoes, but just as they were 
fully enjoying the prospect of a few good meals, they were fired at 
by the rebels, and several found themselves surrounded. Three or 
four were captured. The infantry captain, who was one of the 
party, lost his revolver in his escape to the boat. Next day the 
captain asked them for it. They held it up and told him to get it. 
But in a few days they came to more amicable terms. Parties 
would cross from one side to the other, converse awhile, and then 
return. One lot that came to our side were given some coffee to 
drink. As they got ready to return, " Boys," said one, " I guess 
I'll stay whar I can get some more coffee. You uns can go back," 
and he remained. 

A few days after we left the north side of the river a pontoon 
bridge was built, near the ferry, so that our wagon trains could 
travel from Bridgeport on the south side of the river. The night 
the pontoon was put down a thousand men we're detailed to act as 
guards. The boats were noiselessly floated down past Moccasin 
Point and checked at the desired place. A squad of infantry was 
sent across, which found all but one rebel picket asleep. They 
captured the whole lot without firing a gun, and the next morning 
the rebels found a large body of Yankees on the south side of the 
river, and a pontoon completed for them to cross to and fro on ! 
Below this the 11th and 12th Corps were lying. A junction was 
formed and trains immediately began using that road. There was 
a point on the road where the rebels were quite close. It was at a 
gap in the hills. As our teams would pass onthe gallop, the rebs 
would fire on them and shout " Hard tack and sowbelly." and, as 
our men were running the gauntlet, they would ask if the John- 
nies would not like some. 

But to return to the Battery, it was dark before we were able 
to cross the river. We then camped on the east side of the town 
near Gen. Rosecrans' late headquarters. We drew rations at nine 
o'clock at night for that day, and received two-thirds of hard tack, 



CHICKAMAUGA CAMPAIGN. L05 

three-fourths of meal and one-fourth of coffee, sugar and tea. 
Soap ami such extras were not to be had. We though! our extra 
large rations were due to our having joined our new division, but 
we soon found we got less from the uew commissary than from the 
old one. 

On the 21st our guns were pul in position in Fori Negley, 
which was situated about the righl center of our lines. There 
were only three embrasures, and these were used for guns 1. 5 and 
6, Squads 1. 2 and 3 having to make theirs themselves. The cais- 
sons and horses were kepi back near town, close by the E. T. & Y. 
K\ R., and only a few rods Prom Gen. Sheridan's headquarters. 
All non-combatants were sent back to remain with them. 

Now our horses began dying with hunger, for we no longer 
could send our teams out foraging, and we shared with our horses 
the little corn drawn for them from the quartermaster. The corn 
made excellent hominy, and. when in meal, good pancakes. To 
reduce it to meal, we made graters by taking such tin as we could 
get, punching holes in it and then nailing it in an oval form to a 
piece of board; but this was ent irely too slow and labor ions a pro- 
cess. Patton set his wits at work, and soon produced a mill made 
of a piece of iron pipe and a bar to revolve in it by means of a 
crank. This mill gained great notoriety throughout the division, 
and soon Sam"> tent was crowded from morning till night with men 
from every company and regiment, to use " Patton s Mill. As a 
consequence, it soon began to show wear, but before it became use- 
less he had completed another on a larger scale. It was a wagon 
wheel hub box with an indented shaft to work in it. This did the 
work better and faster. The corn that was broughi to this mill 
was either taken from the army storehouses or stolen from the 
batteries. Much of it. however, was picked out id' the mild where 
animals had been eating. To accompany the luxury, corn, we 
sometimes were able to buy a beefs heart for 25 cents, a liverfor50 
cent-, lights 25 cents, brains 25 cents, tongue 50 cents, head 25 
cents, tail L5 cent-, etc.. i. e., first, if we had the money to pur- 
chase them with: second, if we were in time, and finally, if we had 
inclination to scuffle for them in a crowd of hungry fellow-suf- 
ferers. 

On the 24th all the detailed men with our Battery returned 
t,i their commands. The next da\ orders were received to -end all 
our horses but thirty-two back to Stevenson. The proper detail- 



106 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

were made out, and the column started, headed by Lieut. Fluskey r 
but just as they reached the pontoon, they received orders to return 
to camp. We had been unable to draw any rations that day, so in 
the afternoon we received two ears of corn per man. At night 
we drew three crackers to last two days. Gen. Sheridan rode up 
in the afternoon and asked the guard, placed over the corn, how 
much our horses received at a feed. When told he said "* That 
will never do; they must have more, and I will order more to be 
issued to you; 11 but the extra was never received. At nine o'clock 
that night orders were received to be in line at an early hour next 
morning, as the rebels were expected to attack; all were up early, 
but not before the rebs had opened fire from Lookout at 2 A. M. 
They continued their fire for about an hour, and then all was quiet. 

We received orders to make ourselves as comfortable as pos- 
sible, and were told that we could get lumber and brick at a large 
brick building to the east of town, about half way to the rebel 
pickets. This house was the late residence of Frank Paul, of the 
Chattanooga Rebel. ■ While tearing it down, a portion of the 
timbers fell on Stone and broke his leg in so many places that it 
had to be amputated — the operation not being performed until nearly 
a year later. We built very comfortable shebangs, one man add- 
ing style to his by making the sides of large windows taken from 
the house. 

On the 27th all our mule teams, except Bill's, were sent to the 
supply train, Hoffman going with his team. 

Cannonading was of every da}^ occurrence. Lookout and 
Moccasin would pass the time of day almost invariably. Other 
batteries would also have a word to say occasionally. Sometimes 
Lookout would send her shells into town, and sometimes at our 
outposts, but there was never much damage done by either side. 
There was seldom any skirmishing done between the pickets. 
Every calm morning Bragg' s headquarter band would come down 
into the valley to his lines and play the Confederate national ( ? ) 
tunes. His trains would also run out to his picket lines and 
wmistle. All this sounded very fine to us, when Ave did not know 
one day Avhether we should have anything to eat on the next, and 
expecting daily an attack from the ( as we supposed ) largely re- 
inforced foe. However, after the 11th and 12th Corps arrived, 
and had got used to living without butter and soft bread, we did 
not feel so apprehensive of fatal results. 



' llli K.WI ML A i AMI'AM-S. ]{)' 

On the morning of the 2d of November it was discovered that 
the enemy had been at work during the night, throwing up works 

in our immediate front, and just at the edge of the w Is. Gen. 

SI i -rid a 11 ordered guns 1. 2 and 3, of our Batterj . to ope i them. 

They did so, causing the Johnnies, who were in sight, to disappear 
as it by magic. At 8 P. M. we received orders to bitch up. All 
the "frames 11 that were able to stand up were put under the 
harness and hitched to the carriages. The infantry lay along the 
lines and railroads in our trout for aboui two bours and thru 
ret urned. 

At uight we drew our usual rations, getting eleven small hard 
tick for three days: One man wagered he could eat the eleven 
within an hour, taking nothing of any kind to quench his thirst. 
Our hospital steward offered him his if lie iliil it. ami if not, he was 
to pay the hospital man fifty cents. He accomplished tin' task in 
fifty-one minutes, suffering quite as much for water as the other 
did over the loss of his rations. 

Aliout twelve o'clock that uight Gen. Sheridan took the 

infantry out. ami. by daylight, hail a long lii f works ami a fort 

liuilt uear where the rebels had been at work. Great must have 
been the mortification, of the rebs when the} discovered it. lor it 
not only prevented the advance of their lines, hut actually forced 
them to draw in their pickets quite a distance. Toward evening, of 
that day, our Battery sent a few shells at some rebels who were 
seen in front of the n sw w irks, ha; such was the lav of the ground 
that to hit the rebels we must endanger our own men. so nam (> 
was taken to Fort Palmer, a more elevated position, ami from there 
shelled the rebel camps in the valley till dark. 

On the 5th all hut sixteen of our horses were sent, under 
charge of Sergt. ^mberg and Privates Mundell ami Henderson, to 
Sequatchie Valley, some ten miles distant, to be fed on such pro- 
vender as could he found there, hut so little was fouiul to I I 

them that all hut two or three died. 

Great sensation was produced in camp for several days after 
the 6th, over the report t hat a sixty-day furlough \\ as to be offered 
to all who should volunteer to take Lookout and survive its 
capture. Under the circumstances there was hardly a man who 
would not have handed in his name had the chance been given 
him. They had had sufficient of hand to mouth living, and were 
willing to do anything to gain a short respite. Probablj had any 



108 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

such movement been meditated by Gen. Thomas, the actions of the 
enemy, during the last few days would have deterred him. Just 
before dark they would build large fires in regular order, on Mission 
Ridge and on Lookout, as though they had received heavy rein- 
forcements. Some time after, our forces practiced the same ruse 
at points up and down the river. 

On the 13th we witnessed the shooting of two men for deser- 
tion. It was the only instance of carrying the law to its extreme 
penalty we saw during the war. The men were from the 44th 
and 88th Illinois Infantry. 

That day Corp. Clute arrived from home. He vowed he would 
take no more furloughs, as he thought soldiers were treated like 
dogs till they crossed the Ohio River, and then they had to show 
their papers at every step, or they would be arrested. 

On the 15th three infantry-men were drummed out of service. 
The troops were called out on review in front of Fort Wood, and, 
having formed two lines facing each other, these men were marched 
between them. They were surrounded by bayonets pointing 
toward them. One man wore a board on his back on which was 
"Deserter." The second bore "Coward" in large capitals: Avhile 
the third had his head shaved and carried a stool on it. 

For several weeks we had got our tire-wood on and near 
Orchard Knob, sometimes going within speaking distance of the 
rebel pickets. On the night of the 16th they advanced their 
pickets, cutting off much of our timber land and causing "wood to 
be wood." Richardson was that day transferred to the Veteran 
Reserve Corps for partial blindness. 

By daylight of the 17th we had a large force across the river, 
to the rebel side, some distance above our lines. Only a few were 
exposed to view, the others remaining concealed and prepared to 
act their part. The rebels advanced in considerable force, com- 
pared with the number they saw before them, expecting to make 
an eas}' capture. Our few advanced pickets fell back apparently 
reluctantly. The rebels advanced boldly, till within proper dis- 
tance, when they received a murderous fire of musketry and ar- 
tillery that completely paralyzed them. They brought up their 
artillery, but did no particular injury to our forces, who held the 
ground. 

At noon, on the 18th, the rebels instituted the discharging of 
their muskets by volley. As volley after volley was heard, and 



rim K \\l SlUG \ I IMP \1».\. L09 

then scattering shots to fill up the intervals, it was thought they 
tnusl be having a battle among themselves, as it was well known 
there existed great dislike among the different State troops. 

On the 20th the infantry of the division received orders to 
ciink two days 1 rations, but we know not what they found to cook. 
That eight all of our brigade except the 64th Ohio and our Bat- 
tery, crossed the river, but returned sonic hour- later. The next 
ila\ we sent our ambulance to get the paymaster, and -non we 
were in possession of tour months 1 pay. This was looked upon as 
a godsend ! 



CHAPTER XIV. 



Near dark, on the 22d of November, the 2d and 3d divisions 
of the 11th Corps, and part of the 12th Corps, crossed the pontoon 
and camped outside the works to the right of Fort Wood. This, 
we were certain, meant a movement in the aggressive. That night 
it was hinted that each infantry-man was to receive one hundred 
rounds. This also sounded ominous; but nothing to compare with 
the steady, measured tread of parts of the 4th and 11th Corps, as 
they filed out between Forts Wood and Negley. at 1 P. M.. next 
day (23d. ) The rebels said they thought it was to be only a review 
of our army, and so did many of us as we saw the first troops move 
out from the camp of the 11th Corps. As the column filed out, 
some of the 11th Corps, who were closely watching its movements, 
wondered what was to be done. As the body snatchers, carrying their 
stretchers, followed, one of the spectators exclaimed: u See them 
things; that means fight! They were soon fully convinced that 
that was the true meaning, as their bugles then immediately sounded 
"Stand to arms, 1 ' and the 11th and 12th Corps were soon in line. 

Our few horses were harnessed and everything put in readi- 
ness, should we be called upon to take part. How grand and yet 
how awful was the scene we beheld from the ramparts of Negley ! 
The day was clear and calm, adding splendor to our long lines as 
they advanced with firm and even step, as if to martial music. 
Our star spangled banner seemed even more beautiful as it waved 
so majestically over them. How, almost breathlessly, were our 
lines watched by those left at the works, as they sallied first to the 
right and then to the left! And as they entered the woods and 
disappeared from sight, each ear was strained to catch the first 
sound of conflict. Not a gun was fired: they met none of the 
enemy; and not wishing to advance too far, lest they might fall 
into an ambush, they returned to the open field, and stacked arms. 



'Ill' K \M \l'o \ I \\!P \|i,n. 11 J 

till a reconnoissance could be made on the Hanks. In ;i few min- 
utes they advanced into the woods again, when they met a few of 
thf enemy and exchanged a dozen shots the enemy retiring to his 
works. At 2:45 Fort Wood ope lontheridge. Negley's thirty- 
pounders followed, and then our Battery opened. In a minute all 
the batteries along our lines were playing on the enemy's camps 
on Mission Ridge, in the valley and on Lookout. Fori Neglej 
used thirty-three guns, ami several other forts nearly as many. 
Imagine a shower of shells fired from two hundred cannon, each 
piece sending an average of four per minute and all striking \\ ithin 
an arc two miles in length, and an idea can be formed of what 
must have been the state of affairs within the rebel camps, during 
our bombardment, which lasted about thirty minutes! 

Ahout four o'clock the rebels ope 1 tire from Lookout, but 

till then they had not fired a shot. In a few minutes several bat- 
teries opened, from different points on the ridge, directing their 
shots at our columns in the woods, in the valley. A little while 
before dark our lines charged on the rebel works on Orchard 

Knob. They captured the first li f works and ahout 150 

prisoners, with but little loss. During the day the large doors in 
the passenger house, at the depot, had been (dosed l>\ fitting ties 

in them so firmly as t ake them quite as strong as the brick 

walls of the building. Into this house the prisoners were con- 
ducted for safe keeping. All was quiet during the night, save an 
occasional shot fired by the opposing pickets, who were now 
brought within quarreling distance. The rebels had by some 
means become aware of the hundred rounds furnished to each of 
our infantry, for, as soon as they became reconciled enough to 
talk, after our forces had captured their first line-, their pickets 
called out to ours, " Come on with your hundred rounds, we are 
ready for you!" 

Early on the morning of the 24th, several batteries were -cut 
to the front, to different parts of the line. It was 7:30 \. M. 
before a shot was fired. We borrowed horses from different bat- 
teries, to give as enough to complete our complement, which was 
— of good horses, -i\ to a carriage, of crow-baits, eight to a car- 
riage. At 10:45, while waiting a movement ii r front, we 

heard heavy firing begin in Lookout V^ alley, and were soon informed 
that Hooker was trying to take the mountain. The mountain 
it-elf was enveloped in heavj mist ami invisible from Chattanooga. 



112 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

We judged from the sound of the firing that it was coming our 
way, indicating the success of our armies. Shortly after one 
o'clock the clouds enveloping the mountain were dispelled, and all 
eyes were turned toward it for the first glimpse of the stars and 
stripes, as they should come up around the point, for we all looked 
undoubtingly to Hooker's success, and were confident of victory. 
Shortly we saw the rebel flag fall back, their lines broken, but 
fighting as though determined not to yield! Immediately our 
starry flag followed, our lines advancing firm and intact. Moc- 
casin and a fort near by now did good execution, as they poured 
their shells into the foe whenever they would rally. Wood, Neg- 
ley and other forts shelled the valley, that reinforcements could 
not be sent to those rebels on the mountain. At 1 P. M. the com- 
batants were fairly in view on the open ground, facing Chattanooga. 
All of this was in full view of our entire army, in and in front of 
Chattanooga, and the sight — one of the most dramatic of the war — 
called forth the most tumultuous cheering. 

Willich, with his brigade, had been sent to the railroad bridge, 
across Chattanooga Creek, earlier in the day. At the moment 
Hooker gained the white house in the open field, before mentioned, 
Willich's band struck up the soul-enlivening tune, u Rally Hound 
the Flag.' 1 Never before had that tune sounded so beautiful to 
us. The guns of the fort ceased firing, and all listened intensely 
to the sweet notes. But scarcely had the band ceased playing ere 
Willich had work for his men. They had made their cup of 
coffee and drank it, but he had no "sharge 11 to lead them to; this 
time it was to repel a 'Charge.' 1 The rebels advanced in con- 
siderable force to burn the railroad bridge. Willich's infantry 
and artillery drove them back several times before they abandoned 
their object. They suffered severely in these charges, as Willich's 
men were close to them, and did not spare their ammunition. 

The day had opened clear and lovely, but toward noon it became 
misty, and, as Hooker rounded the point, it was raining hard. A 
cool, south wind now blew up freshly, and soon the mountain was 
enveloped in fog. At the time we were watching Willich's battle, 
the actors on the mountain were entirely hidden from our view by 
the sheet of fog. After a time it cleared from the upper part of 
the mountain so that we could plainly see Hookers men battling 
among the rocks with the now firmly entrenched foe. There was 
the hardest part of the contest. As a blue coat would drive a 



' 1IH KAMAUGA CAMP \K.N. 113 

gray back from behind a rock or tree, he would jump to procure 
the protection from which he had just driven his foe, while the 
rebel would dodge behind the first tree or stone he came to. The 
danger to either party was in running from one point to another. 
Thus they fought till darkness set in. but even then tiny did not 
remain quiet. A little alter sunset the sk\ became clear, and the 
stars shone forth in all their brilliancy. The whole easi side of 
the mountain, to some distance back, presented a scene, which, hut 
for the noise that arose from there, would have made us fancj w e were 
looking upon an Illinois prairie on some summer evening when 
the tire Hies were thickest flash. Hash, pop, pop. wa.s what our 
eyes and ears were constant l\ greeted with, till about eleven 
o'clock, when the firing gradually died out. and all was calm till 
morning, when we learned the cause of the quiet. 

By daylight, on the morning of the 25th, it was discovered 
that there were no more rebels on Lookout. Thej had withdrawn 
their artillery and infantry during the night, and now our troops 
were in possession of that, for which we had expected many hun- 
dred lives would have to he sacrificed in order to obtain, dust at 
sunrise, the stars and stripes waved from the noted rock at the 
north end of the mountain. The mountain was ours. To the 
hero. Gen. Hooker, the nation gives the merited praise. 

Vet. although the mountain was in our possession, still our 
work was incomplete. The enemy were yet strongly fortified in 
our front. Mission Ridge must be captured before we could feel 
at ease. Bui to take that we must face the whole force of the 
enemy, as they no longer had Lookout to protect. 

Sherman had not been idle during the night. He had arrived 
a few days before, with a great portion of his army, ami during 
the night of the 24th, had crossed hi- men to the east side of the 
river near the mouth of Chickamauga Creek, and by daylight, on 
the 25th, was ready to perform his part id' the program. 

At an early hour in the morning, we moved our caissons to the 
guns to be ready to move to the front if required. As the sun 
aiose the enemy could lie seen, marching in heavy column along 
the ridge in the direction of Sherman. Bragg evidentl} expected 
that Gen. Grant would continue a- he had commenced attack 
him by detail; and to inert our attack for this day. was massing 
hi- forces in front of that part of our line where he expected us 
to make the assault on our extreme left. C mauded l>\ Gen. 



114 BATTEEY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

Sherman. At nine o'clock the battle began. At times Sherman 
was gaining ground fast; then the rebels would make a stubborn 
stand, charge, and drive Sherman's men back nearly as far as they 
had advanced. In that way they fought all day, each side suffering 
severely, and about equally. 

Fort Negley fired a few rounds early in the morning. Gun 6 r 
of our Battery, anticipating orders, fired one shot. 

At ten o'clock our lines to the east of Fort Wood advanced. 
Our artillery, at the front, kept up a constant fire on the rebel 
camps in the valley. Not a word came from the rebels till half 
past ten. when an 18-pounder, near Bragg's headquarters, opened. 
It fired but a few rounds, when again all was silent, on their part, 
and we concluded that portion of the ridge was nearly deserted. 
Carefully scrutinizing the top of the ridge with field glasses we 
discovered, by the sheen of their bayonets, a column of the enemy 
marching southward behind their works, and concluded that this 
column would be about all our forces would have to contend with 
as they advanced. Our lines passed through to the edge of the 
woods, and, meeting no enemy, returned to the open field. About 
noon, as our troops again advanced, the rebels opened with a few 
guns from the ridge. 

At one o'clock, as all were intently watching to see our colors 
as they should advance from the woods into the opening, between 
the timber and the ridge, we heard such a hearty cheer in the 
direction of Moccasin Point, that all immediately turned to discover 
if possible, its cause. How our heai'ts throbbed as we beheld a 
steamer — the Stars and Stripes waving over her — come slowly 
around the point! She moved as though indifferent to danger, but 
proud of the colors she bore, and satisfied of a kindly reception 
because of the rations she was bringing us. Our first thought was 
of the risk she was running in passing the point; but instantly re- 
called the fact that the mountain was ours, and the unmolested 
advance of the steamer, was another proof of the fact. Cheer after 
cheer ran along the works, and was caught up by our comrades at 
the front! Soon another boat followed and we began to imagine 
ourselves once more sitting down to a square meal. 

To add to our causes for rejoicing, Hooker, having crossed 
Chattanooga Valley to the ridge near Rossville, now opened with 
his guns upon the enemy. At 2 P. M. the enemy changed the 
direction of their fire to the southeast, which seemed to indicate 



CHII K Wl \l i. \ I LMP V.IGN. 1 15 

thai Hooker was threatening their rear through Rossville Gap. 
While we were eagerlj watching the movernents of the rebels, a 
darky cook brought in a prisoner whom he had captured. This 
prisoner was a Jew, who had been a sutler in Bragg's army; but, 
when it becam • so re luce I as to require all to bear arms who could, 
he was forced to shoulder a inuskel an I go to the front. To this 
he would not submit Longer than forced to, so, when Bragg's men 
Lefl their camp thai day, he oiide his way toward our liues, and 
was captured by the darky, wh i would uol Lose sight of him for 
an instant till he had marched him to headquarters and delivered 
hi in to the proper officer. Of a consequence, the darky was cheered 
by everyone who met him, as it seemed so droll to sit a white man 
in charge of a black one. 

At t:30our troops moved to the final step of taking the ridge. 
The signal for the charge was six guns fired from Orchard Knob, 
at intervals of two seconds. When the sixth gun sounded, the 
whole line, that had been so quietly Lying in the woods, sprang to 
their feet as if our m in. and eager for the fray. A.S thej emerged 
from the woods into the open meadow, it seemed as if the whole top 
of .Mission Ridge was a blaze of fire over which soon hung a cloud 
of smoke Where we had supposed a dozen guns to be the greatest 
number they could have there, as many batteries, of from tour to 
six guns, now helched forth their missiles of death ! How appalling, 
and yet how grandly sublime, was the scene there presented! A 
line of men dressed in one uniform, with the red. white and blue 
fiag of freedom, floating over them at regular distances of a few 
rods; this line nearly two miles in length, marching across an open 
field, receiving the murderous lire of over a hundred cannon: then 
slowly climbing the steep ascent of the ridge, sometimes stopping 
from exhaustion to breathe, the] driving the enemy fr lie- 
hind rude works or tin- shelter of the trees, till they reach the last 
line of the enemy's works, just at the brow of the ridge; there 
halting for a few moments while the rebels hurl huge stone- among 
them, then springing forward once more, are soon the master- id' 
the ground the enemy fleeing in consternation. Leaving his dead 
and wounded, hundreds of prisoners, and nearly half of hi- artil- 
lery behind him ! 

How heart-thrilling was it. a- we -aw the enem} running in 
dismay, the flag of our country closely following, and soon waving 
in triumph in fn-nt of Bragg's recent headquarters! Cheer upon 



116 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

cheer rose along our works as we beheld this. The setting sun 
shot his golden rays among the trees, along the ridge, lighting up 
the scene in a grand pageant! 

But our men stopped not to exult over their victory. They 
turned the captured guns on the fleeing enemy, and as soon as they 
were beyond reach, pursued with the musket, and staid not the 
pursuit till darkness demanded it. The rebels in front of Sherman, 
learning the result in our front, broke and fled, and by seven o'clock 
scarcely a gun was to be heard. 

Our men suffered a great deal while crossing the open field be- 
fore reaching the foot of the ridge, and also while ascending its 
side. During the ascent, the heavy guns of Negley and Wood 
kept up a constant fire on the rebel guns on the ridge, one shell, 
from Orchard Knob, exploding one of their caissons. Only one 
shell from the enemy reached our works around Chattanooga, ex- 
ploding a little to the right and at some height over Fort Wood. 

This is what Battery M saw of the glorious battles of Lookout 
Mountain and Missionary Ridge. Its participation in the same 
consisted only in firing from the ramparts of Fort Negley, upon 
the rebels on the ridge, over the heads of the advancing infantry. 
In fact, but little short range work was done by the artillery, 
during this engagement. With the exception of a few guns on 
Orchard Knob, the artillery of the army of the Cumberland was 
held in reserve, probably because the absence of good horses would 
have made active maneuvers a matter of considerable difficulty. 
To the left, in Sherman's attack, artillery was freely used, and at 
short range too. It was our fate to participate in many more en- 
gagements, and to do much fighting at short and at long range, but 
we never again had an opportunity to see all the movements, and 
maneuvers of a great battle. The certainty and positiveness of 
the various movements, and the proper and telling secpience of 
each successive attack and advance, as they were made in our view, 
gave us supreme confidence in the high abilities of Gen. Grant, 
against whom, we of the army of the Cumberland, had at first 
been prejudiced, feeling that he had supplanted our beloved and 
honored commander, " Old Rosey," from whom we were loth to 
transfer our allegiance to his successor. 

The result of the fight in our front was, besides the capture of 
the ridge and the dispersion of the enemy, over forty cannon, 
among them the noted New Orleans Washington Battery of four 



(UK K \M \l i. L CAMPAIGN 117 

eighteen-pounder brass pieces, a number of horses, great amount of 
forage,and many prisoners! As these latter were being marched to 
town, when they came to the works our men had built, after captur- 
ing their first line in the valley, they exclaimed, "See them works! 
Why, they are stronger than ours were, and we had so many weeks 
to build them in."* Bragg often declared that, " If a Yankee had a 
spade and half an hour to work in, he would bury himself out of 
reach of any shell." 

That night was passed in searching and caring for the wounded, 
many of whom could onh be found by accidentally coming upon 
them: for it appeared as though each one felt so proud over the 
victory that he would not even groan, although suffering excruci- 
ating pain. The moon rose about nine, but it was later before her 
light afforded much assistance to those in search of the wounded 
on the side of the ridge. 

Bright and glorious did the morning of the 26th dawn on the 
field of our late victory. It was Thanksgiving Day at home: but 
were they there more thankful than we here? The day seemed SO 
much like Sunday used to at home, that we almost doubted we 
could he in the army. One would glance up at Lookout, expecting 
to hear the usual 1 tool n of t lie cannon, as the gun on the point sent its 
iron messenger down to us: but all was as quiet as though naught 
of life was on it. Then glancing toward Mission Ridge and seeing 
men and teams there that we knew were our own, we would wonder 
within ourselves, "How can it be possible that those strongholds 
are ours; strongholds that no number of rebels can drive us from!" 

In the afternoon there were a few cannon tired, far to the 
northeast, and we could plainly see the smoke from the burning 
rebel stores at Chickamauga and other stations. At one o'clock in 

the afternoon Fort Wood fired thirty-four blanks in Ik ■ of the 

victory. Toward night we took our horse- and hauled the Wash- 
ington Battery down from Bragg's late headquarters. Twoof the 
guns were named Lady Buckner and Ladj Breckenridge. When 
we received our ration- that day they were full allowance of meat. 
coffee, sugar, crackers and suit! The Battery was given twelve 
rebel horses and harness, and received orders to march; bul the 
marching orders were countermanded, dust at dark the 2d and 3d 
Divisions returned to camp, so as to be prepared to move the next 
day or whenever the order t -,nt\^ to march. Dunn- the da\ we 
hauled more of the captured guns down from the ridge. 



PART III. 

Kpoxville Canppaigp. 



CHAPTER XV. IWKT III. 



At 2 P. M.. nn the 28th of November, we moved nut of Chat- 
tanooga \\ ith our own ami the Third Division. We li.nl drawn horses 
from various batteries almost every artillery horse of the Army of 
th." Cumberland that survived tin- starvation of tin- siege, ami had 

eight to each carriage. We also had thirty- men from Batterj 

G, 1st Missouri, and sixteen from the Kith [ndiana Battery. All 
of our men who were not well clothed were left at camp, so we 
had only sixty-seven of our own. It was supposed we should be 
hack in two days at the farthest, so we took only what clothes we 
were wearing, blankets barely sufficient to keep us from freezing, 
ami no tents for shelter: supposing we should probably chase 
Bragg to Ringgold or Dalton ami then return. Toward dark it 
became very cold and the wind blew hard from the west. We 
reached the Chickamauga River just at dark, and found that a pon- 
toon bridge was there in operation our division crossing as fast a it 
could, hut having to wait long at times for portions of Sherman's 
troops, who were returning from the chase, to cross. Standing in 
the mud in an open field, th" wind having full sweep across it. we 
suffered much, as our clothing was poor and insufficient for that 

Season of the year, and as we had heen so long used to sitting ill 

our tents before a warm tin', we felt the eold the more. At eleven 
o'clock the Battery began to cross. It was aecessarj to unhitch 
the horses as soon as the carriage was aero—, a- the north hanlc of 
the river was so steep, ami the mud so deep and stiff, that our poor 
horses could barely walk up under the load of the harness; in fact. 

we had to help two or three of them Up the hill. 

The lnnth Illinois was detailed to assist in hauling our car- 
riages up. As soon as the horses were unhitched, they would 
fasten their rope- to the carriages and then tug and pull through 
the mud, knee deep, their spirits being buoyed up 03 the enliven- 
ing words and cheers of Col. Buckner, of the 79th Illinois, who 
had charge of the work. The lasl part of our Batter} to , fOSS was 



122 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

Bill's wagon. It was heavily loaded, and as he came to the spot 
where the teams unhitched, the men were ready with their ropes. 
"I don't want no ropes for mv wagon,' 1 said Bill, and calling out, 
" Yay there. Jennie." up went the wagon to the top of the 
bank — the first one that night that had not been hauled up by hand. 
All looked at the mules and driver as though they were prodigies! 

We camped near the bridge, and were able to give our animals 
a good feed once more. There were several wagons standing near 
by, heavily laden with forage, and, having orders to, we took all 
we wished for them. 

Our dog, " Battery." had followed us this far. but next morn- 
ing we missed him. nor saw him again till he was brought to us 
some months later from Chattanooga. He doubtless had some 
such foresight of what was in prospect for the Battery as rats are 
supposed to have with reference to a sinking ship. 

We here met with our " other self." Cogswell's battery that 
had for the first year of its existence claimed to be " Battery M, 
1st Illinois." and was thus the cause of the miscarriage of much of 
our mail, but as we were mustered in first, the letter M was given 
to us. 

It now appeared that we were en-route for Knoxville to the 
relief of Gen. Burnside. and that, as it was said that he only had 
provisions to last him six clays longer. Ave must reach there at the 
end of that time or he would be compelled to surrender to Long- 
street, who, with his corps, had been allowed by Bragg to go there 
some time before the late battle. The distance to Knoxville was 
estimated to be about one hundred and twenty miles, and to make 
that distance in six days we must average twenty miles per day. 
and this, with the roads almost impassable on account of mud: our 
horses unshod, many of them scarcely able to stand alone, and not 
a dozen fit for work: ourselves poorly clothed, our foot-covering 
such that if we stepped in the least bit of water our feet would be 
wet. and with not sufficient blankets along to keep us comfortable 
at night! 

About eight o'clock, on the morning of the 29th. we hitched 
up and attempted to start, but found it was impossible to move. 
The horses would not pull. The mud was frozen sufficiently to 
bear a man, but a horse would break through at nearly every step, 
and thus cut and lacerate his legs badly. We began doubling, 
but could not move till there were fourteen horses to a carriage. 



known. 1. 1: CAMPAIGN. 123 

We then had to go nearly two miles before coming to road over 
which eight horses could draw again. In going to and fro over 
this bad road we were delayed till a late hour before getting under 
headway. We reached Harrison, a small village about a mile from 
the river, at 1:30, and camped about two miles further on. We 
were about thirteen miles Prom Chickamauga River, and within 
half a mile of Ooltowah Creek. This latter stream was a hoi it sixty 
feet wide and eight feet deep. The rebels bad burned the bridge, 
and soon the engineer corps was at work rebuilding it. While 
the engineers were thus engaged, we were making ourselves com- 
fortable. Quite a large lot of hogs of all ages were running about 
over the field in which we were camped, ami we had an abundance 
of good, fresh pork tor our supper that night. 

By dark the bridge builders had completed their work. Our 
Battery was divided ami assigned as follows: The right section, 
under Lieut. Burton, to march with the 2d Brigade, Gen. Wagner 
commander; the left section, under Lieut. Fluskey, to he with the 
1st Brigade, commanded by Col. Sherman. (It was Gen. Stead- 
nian's brigade, hut he was at home on leave. ) And the center sec- 
tion, under <,». M. Sergt. Murphy, to remain with the 3d Brigade, 
Col. Barker's. 

A few Hakes of snow fell at night, hut being near a g 1 

fence ami a straw stack not far off, we cared little for the weather. 

On the 30th, all were astir at two o'clock, and in motion by 
4:30; the center section, with the 3d Brigade, being in advance. 
The order of marching was to he changed each day; this was to 
make pioneering equal among the brigades. At 7:30 we reached 
a house where was found the body of a rebel, whom our men had 
killed some days before. Two union women occupied the house. 
They had brought the body in from where the\ had found it, with 
the intention of burying it. The next house we came to was that 
of ('apt. Snow-, the noted guerrilla. It was a large brick structure 
with plent\ of surrounding out houses, all showing its owner to 
he a man of means and sound sense — barring the cause he had en- 
gaged in. Hi- premises furnished us two or three wagon loads id' 
splendid hams, shoulders and side-meat. 

At nine o'clock we came to a large mill run by the water from a 
single spring, the water being, however, too warm to drink. At 
the mill wa- found some flour ami meal: the Batterv secured two 



124 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

or three bags full of each, and this added to the meat drawn from 
the "Snow donation, 1 ' made us think we were beginning to live 
again. 

Getting now well out of the rebel forage district, we began to 
find considerable of everything good, at rebel houses; but nearly all 
the union people had been stripped of everything, save a barely 
sufficient quantity of corn meal to keep body and soul together. 

At eleven o'clock Georgetown was passed, and " Joe 1 ' thought 
we should next arrive at Washington, but, instead, we halted on 
the bank of the Hiawasse River, about a mile north of Georgetown, 
and some eight miles from its mouth. As Gen. Sheridan rode to 
the bank in advance of the column, a few rebels on the other side 
fired at him, but did no damage. We expected to meet a steamer 
here, and as it was not in sight by two o'clock, No. 3 gun was run 
down to the water's edge and fired a blank as a signal that all was 
right. At four o'clock the steamer Paint Rock arrived, having a 
barge lashed to either side, she and the barges being well laden with 
supplies, which were speedily deposited on the north bank, when 
the steamer commenced ferrying the troops. 

Although we had halted so early we had accomplished our 
twenty miles, but the deficiency of the day before was not made up. 
That day two of the Battery G, 1st Missouri men took the steamer 
to return to their batteiy, as they were unable to endure the 
march. 

The boat worked steadily all night, crossing the troops. At 
4:30, on the 1st of December, the Battery crossed. After crossing 
the river we halted long enough to feed our horses and draw 
rations, the last from Government till reaching Knoxville. 

This was a union district, and nearly all day women and 
children were standing on either side of the road, some looking as 
though they expected to be swallowed the next instant, for they 
had been told that all Yankees had horns on their foreheads and 
were cannibals, but as they could not see the horns, they concluded 
the latter charge was also false, and greeted us thus; u Why, whar 
do you uns all come from?" "Oh, we are so powerful glad to see 
you!" etc., etc. Many of these people had walked some distance to 
see us " Yanks." At night a different atmosphere was reached. 
We camped just at the suburbs of Decatur, whose citizens were 
unanimously "secesh." This night the troops were not limited to 
the top rail, but received orders to burn as much of the fences as 



know i i.ii: i wii' \k;n. 125 

needed, as it was a rebel town, and it may be safelj said we did 
not suffer with cold from hesitation ♦<> burn rails. The night was 

bitter cold, and the morning found no fences i ir neighborhood. 

Decatur was < . n i \ eleven mile- from Hiawasse Ferry, so we had 
Lost nine miles that day. 

On the 2d the march was resumed at 7::il> A. M. At ten • 

advance entered a house where they found >i\ Johnnies taking a 
fashionable breakfast. The lady of the house had spread the best 
she had. herself waiting on her guests, who were quietly marched 
off a- prisoners, while the blue coats began an inspection of the 
premises. The smoke-house was found to he well tilled with meat: 
the granaries full of corn: two or three tine horses were in the 
stable; many chickens, ducks, geese and turkeys were running about 
the yard: quite a drove of sheep and several head id' cattle were in 
the Held: while in the store-room were found three barrels of sorghum 
syrup, etc.. etc. Nearly all the meat was loaded into wagons; two 

or three loads of corn were taken: the horses were exchanged for 
such of ours as were played out: the poultry took a great liking to 
our men and followed them away, tightly hanging to their belts, 
haversacks, or in some other secure place, that their mistress might 
not he able to call them hack: a detail from the division took care 
of the cattle and sheep, driving them along to slaughter as might 
!»' needed. But of the syrup! Canteens, tin pails, wash dishes, 
plates, cups, saucers, jars, jugs, crocks. ( boots ami shoes might have 
Keen used too could they have been spired for that purpose) were 
filled with sweetening for our pancakes! dust as the last barrel 
was about emptied, several guards rushed in and drove out every 
blue coat who was found plundering. 

Our acts would have been barbarous had we not known before- 
hand the character of the person with whom we were dealing. Her 
husband was a noted rebel officer. There were \er\ fev\ negroes 
on this march, so we had no accessions to our force from that 
source, and the few men at home were generally old and decrepit 
and unfit to shoulder a musket. The district passed through this 
day was quite thickly settled, the country good until nearing Big 
Survee Creek. Mere the land was low ami heavily timbered. \' 
the creek the column halted till the bridge could lie repaired. \\ bile 
halted, we risited the premises of a Mrs. Mar-hall, wife of Gen. 
Humphrey Mar-hall, whose daughter Julia was a well educated 
young lady, hut decidedly secesh. She ackno^R ledged it ami claimed 



126 BATTEKY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

that Tennessee was no longer in the union. "Were she a man she 
would fight as long as she had life." Our investigation proved that 
the old lady was living very poorly, being poorly dressed and with 
barely enough to eat. In a house that stood across the road from 
where she lived were found a fine piano and a great quantity of 
beautiful and costly furniture, which were left unharmed. 

We camped that night on the farm of a rebel, whose name was 
Prigmore, and near Little Survee Creek. We had marched our 
twenty miles but had clone no more. That night attention was 
given to Mr. Prigmore's movable property, which was considerable, 
as he was a very wealthy man for that district. Near our camp 
lived a man who had been paroled at Vicksburg. He told us he 
had received orders to join his command just before the battle of 
Chickamauga, "as he had been properly exchanged,' 1 but he did not 
believe any exchange had been effected, so he remained at home, 
hiding whenever any rebel soldiers appeared. 

Our camp was at the edge of a strong union district, and soon 
after we had resumed march on the morning of the 3d, all received 
positive orders that "Any man, who should be found inside any 
enclosure, no matter what the pretext, would be immediately ar- 
rested, 11 and guards were detailed to carry the order into effect. 
About eight o'clock, one of our corporals being thirsty, and seeing 
a well near a house, began to climb over the fence to go after some 
water. He had forgotten the order and was only reminded of it 
as General Granger, who was quite near caught him by the collar, 
and raised a rope to strike him. He sprang back, caught the 
rope, and would have drawn the general to the ground where he 
intended to "settle matters with him. 11 had not the general spurred 
his horse, jerked from the corporal's grasp, and rode away at the 
gallop. 

The 3rd Kentucky had charge of the men, who were arrested 
this day. They caught two of our men, "The Deacon's Son" and 
"Noisy," as they were quenching their thirst at a springhouse with 
milk they found there in jars and pipkins. 

At Philadelphia our troops halted to let Sherman^ army pass. 
They had followed around by the railroad, and had lived entirely 
on what they foraged off the country. They had wagons, carts, 
pack-mules and horses loaded down with forage. At Sweetwater 
they had found a great quantity of plug tobacco. Some of the 
men had carried a whole box apiece thus far, and were selling 



KNnWIl.I.K I \\ll' \l.;\. |-J- 

it at 25 cents per plug. This was quite different from $1.25 we 
had been paying at Chattanooga for the same sized plugs, but of 
inferior quality. 

We marched about three miles further and camped on Fort 
Creek, having traveled about eighteen miles that day. 

Near our camp was a grist mill, as the people there railed it. 
The country was quite rich in food, and soon our camp was teeming 
with such luxuries as chickens, geese, ducks, syrup, meal. Hour, etc., 
for some of our men had been sent out with the horses to bring in 
corn and "roughness" for the animals, and it was thought well to 
also bring in something good for ourselves. Our poultry dressed 
and duly cooking over a splendid rail fire, our attention was next 
called to see how our friends, "gray-backs," sometimes called back- 
biters, were flourishing, for they had lately made considerable com- 
plaint about inattention. It was found they were thriving 
admirably well. "Multiply and bite" appeared to be their motto. 
We advised emigration, and emigrate they did. 

Sherman's army was working hard at building a bridge across 
the Little Tennessee River, about two miles from where we lay. 
They completed the bridge by the night of the 1th and immediately 
crossed. It was built of timbers, cut in the neighboring woods, 
and hoards and scantling got in Morgantown, by tearing down 
empty houses. Morgantown lies on the north bank of the river, 
and has a population of about two hundred. 

On the morning of the 5th, that we might get an early start, 
we were up at 3:30, but did not move out till eight o'clock. The left 
section was in advance. After going about five miles around, in 
oi-der to have better roads, and crossing Bat Creek, we parked 
within a few rods of the Morgantown and Madisonville pike, to 
wait till the bridge could he repaired, as a caisson had broken 
through not long before. It was half past two in the afternoon 
before we could cross, and then our guns were drawn over by the 
wheel teams, the other horses having to ford the river some dis- 
tance above the bridge. Again, our blankets had been left in the 
wagon, and as it did not catch up with as that day. and the nighi 
was quite cold, we suffered considerably. A few who had been 
thoughtful enough to r-.irvy their blankets along, doubled with as 
many a- could get under them. 

After crossing the river we bore to the right, crossed Baker's 
Creek near its mouth, and camped at night near the creek and 



128 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

seven miles from the bridge. We had already been seven days on 
the road, and, according to the rumors current when we started. 
Knoxville must already have been in the hands of the enemy a 
day. Yet we had marched as rapidly as possible, considering the 
effects of starvation upon ourselves and our horses, and the con- 
dition of the roads, for we always saved a mile where we could by 
going across lots, and much of the way took a bee line, sometimes 
scarcely traveling a mile on the road during a whole day. 

On the 6th we moved out at an earty hour and reached Marys- 
ville at 1 P. M., ten miles from our night's camp. Here we found 
Sherman's array encamped, and received the joyful news that 
Longstreet had attacked Knoxville. and had been repulsed with 
such heavy loss as to make him raise the siege and retreat toward 
Virginia, and that Burnside was following closely on his heels, 
harassing him at every step and capturing many prisoners and 
guns. 

We marched two miles beyond town and camped on Scott's 
branch. There was a mill near by, which was immediately set at 
work. The country was gradually growing poorer as we advanced, 
and we were reaching the limits of the rebels' foraging ground, so 
food for man and beast began to grow less, and supplies were laid 
in wherever we could find them, knowing that the nearer Knox- 
ville the less would be found, while at Knoxville our troops had, 
for some time, been at the point of starvation. 

Being aware that Knoxville was no longer in danger, the 
army moved at its leisure the remainder of the distance. It was 
ten o'clock in the forenoon of the 7th before we started. Travel- 
ing along the east bank of Pigeon Creek for some distance, we bore 
off to the right and soon came to Little River. In order to cross 
this, we had to go about a mile up the river to a ford. The ford 
was in very poor condition near both banks, and our carriages were 
nearly tipped over in going down and up them. Safely across, we 
had to wait about an hour for a wagon train ahead of us to get 
through the pass. 

On the north side of the river, at this point, the hills rise to 
the height of several hundred feet, and so nearly perpendicular 
that a man, to ascend, has to climb by pulling himself up from 
one bush to another. Between this hill and the river, for about half 
a mile, there is only room for a single wagon track. This track 



KXDXVll.I.K CAMPAIGN. 129 

was already badly cut up by our wagons in advance, and it was 
with great difficulty we got through. At L:30 P. M. repassed the 
village of Etockford, ten miles from Knoxville. 

We now found ourselves in a hilly, rock-covered country; 
everything wore a Look of desolation, and at Dearly every house the 
people were in verj destitute circumstances. ''Bumming" was 
now commenced by infantry and artillery. At a distance of five 
milt's mi either side of the road, Yanks were to be found searching 
for something to eat, but the} found little or nothing. At one 
house was a woman with three children. <>ne of these was at 
death's door,and the other two were too small to go to the neigh- 
bor's for food or to care for the sick one while the mother went. 
They had hadscarcelj anything to eat for three days ! We divided 
the little we had with them. The father of these children was in 
our army somewhere near Nashville. 

When within three miles of our destination the shrill whistle of 
the locomotive was heard the first one of ours for months. How 
our hearts leaped for joy ! The echoes from the whistle carried with 
them many hearty cheers from us. It seemed like getting back into 
"God's country," to once more hear the trains running and know 
they were not the enemy's. 

The Batterj was to camp together that night, hut the left 
section and captain lust their way in the darkness, ( we did not 
reach our camp ground till late at night ) and did not join the other 
sections till next day. The right and center camped about a mile 
east of Knoxville. where tlir\ found wood and water handy ami 
.abundant. This closed our march to the relief of Knoxville. 



CHAPTER XVI. 



We drew rations on the morning of the 8th of December, each 
man receiving one pint of flour, half a pint of corn meal, half a 
pound of salt pork, and his share of nine sheep as soon as they 
were dressed. This day the following order was issued: 

Headquarters Military Department Mississippi, 
In Field, Chattanooga, Tenn., Dec. 8, 1863. 
General Orders No. 7. 

The general commanding takes great pleasure in publishing 
to the brave armies under his command the following telegraphic 
dispatch just received from the president of the United States: 

Washington, Dec. 8, 1863. 
To Major General Grant: — 

Understanding that your lodgement at Chattanooga and Knox- 
ville is now secure, I wish to tender you, and all under your com- 
mand, my more than thanks — my profoundest gratitude for the 
skill, courage and perseverance, with which you and they, over so 
many great difficulties, have effected that important object. God 
bless you. 

(Signed) A. Lincoln. 

By order Maj. Gen. U. S. Grant. 

T: S. Bowers, A. A. G. 

On the 9th the wagons were sent out for forage for the ani- 
mals, but they got very little,, as Longstreet had taken every parti- 
cle of grain in sight for miles around. 

Our bread rations on the 10th were a loaf of black bread, 
weighing about twelve ounces, to be divided among four men. 

That day startling news was received, the most of it proving 
only too true. It was that Morgan and six of his staff had escaped 
from the penitentiary; Meade had been forced to fall back; 
Charleston had been in flames sixty -three hours; Longstreet had 
been reinforced by 10,000 men. and would immediately resume the 
offensive. At dark orders were received to march the next morn- 
ing, but at 1 A. M. they were countermanded. 



KNOXVILLE CAMPAIGN. 131 

Lieut. Colvin's battery was lying in town where it had beer 
during the siege. The lieutenant, Learning of our arrival, came to 
see us on the 11th. He had recommended Corp. Judd for pro- 
motion to a lieutenancy in his battery, and the commission was 
already on the road. Lieut. <'<>lvin was going home to get his 
commission as captain, and wished Judd to be immediatelj detailed 
to his battery that he might take command during his (Colvin's) 
absence. Accordingly Judd left us on the 12th, and in a feu days 
signed his orders, "C. M. Judd, Corporal commanding 7th Illinois 
Battery." 

On the morning of the L2th the left section went with the 
1st Brigade to Brabson's Mills, distant about seventeen miles to 
the northeast. In the afternoon the right section and 2d Brigade 
moved to about a mile southwest of town near Fort Saunders -the 
scene of the recent wholesale slaughter of rebels. The center sec- 
tion and 3d Brigade camped near night about a mile west of town. 
near the Knoxville & Covi ngton K. K. We crossed the river on 
a pontoon that was worked on a new plan to us. Before a vehicle 
could cross the guard would telegraph to the other end to see if all 
was (dear, and would receive reply by the stroke of a bell. 

About dark it began to rain in torrents, to the distress of us 
'poor blue coats, who had no tents or shelter, as on account of the 
rain no tire could be kept, and the weather was quite cold. 

On the 13th the horses of tin 1 centre section were sent about 
twelve miles southeast of town to the "Widow Martin's." Orderly 
Gillette was in charge id' them. The surrounding valley was well 
freighted with forage, as Longstreet's wagons had not visited 
it on account of the rough, rocky mads that in many places ran 
over high, steep hills. As soon as the men had their horses well 
cared for in Mrs. Martin's stables they started nut on explorations 
in all directions. They found hut one or two union families, con- 
sequently there was no need of hesitation about helping themselves 
to everything they wanted. Even the " ardent" was to he had m 
almost any quantity wished for. Being comfortablj situated and 
enjoying themselves fully, it was deemed a misfortune when, in 
the afternoon of the L5th, orders were received to repori post haste 
at Knowille. Two of the men detailed from Battery G had been 
allowed to go out for a few hours, and as the} had not yet returned 
when the others started tor Knoxville, their horses were left that 
they might catch up with the column. The men started at dark 



132 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

on the return, and progressed well till they came to a fork of the 
road. Here the leader decided the left hand road was the proper 
one. "Mother," who was one of the party, u couldn't see it," so 
took the right hand road, and was in Knoxville before midnight. 
The others traveled on the left hand road till they entered the road 
to Rockford and had proceeded about a mile further, when " Brick 
Top" declared he had traveled far enough toward the moon. He 
and the Norwegian had for some time thought they were on the 
wrong road, and only kept silent to see how far the commander 
would go before acknowledging his error. They did not reach 
camp till nearly day-break. 

Some of the infantry was sent out by railroad as far as Straw- 
berry Plains. The right section started in the afternoon of the 
15th and camped about six miles from Knoxville. 

The center section started at 7:30 A. M. on the 16th. They 
picked up a couple of good wheels that Longstreet had left on the 
road, which they retained, throwing away two of theirs that were 
minus a number of spokes the horses had eaten out. During one 
of their halts, a rebel citizen came along with a wagon load of 
potatoes, u seerup" and apples. He asked such exorbitant prices 
that the most of his load was confiscated even to his mittens. The 
roads were very muddy, and at 3 P. M., while going through an 
extremely bad place, No. 3 gun broke its pole, causing quite a delay. 
The center section camped near Rosebury Creek at 5:40 P. M. — 
twelve miles from Knoxville. The right section camped about two 
miles further on. The left section, at Brabson's Mills, received 
orders to return to Knoxville. They left the mills on the 16th and 
traveled about twelve miles. 

About midnight, from the 16th to the 17th. it began to rain 
so hard that soon the creeks were swollen so as to overflow their 
banks. We passed a very disagreeable night, having to leave our 
beds on account of the rain, and compelling us to shelter ourselves 
as best we could. The march was resumed next morning. At 
nine o'clock there was considerable disturbance in the wagon trains 
caused by the exchange of a few shots some distance ahead, and 
the report that the rebels were trying to get between us and Knox- 
ville. It had been learned some days before that Longstreet was 
not leaving quite as rapidly as was at first reported, and as it was 
fully believed he had received large reinforcements, every rumor 
of an attack by the enemy was received as a fact. 



KM>\\ li.u: campaign. 133 

S l after crossing Flat Creek, the right and center sections 

and infantry formed a junction and unit into camp about a mile 
from Blain's Cross Roads, eighteen miles from Ivnoxville. 

That day the left section reached the Holston River and 
camped. On the 18th the) entered Knoxville and camped near 
the ilt 'put to await transportation to the front, which, by order 
of Gen. Foster, was denied them. On the 19th the) moved 
about a quarter of a mile east of the depot, and on the next 
da) took permanent position in a small fort on a hill, but a short 
distance to the east ol the depot. \ small house, standing within 
the works, served them as quarters. There they remained during 
our sojourn in that region. Occasionally they wouldsend foragers 
into tin- country to get corn meal and corn ketchup. They made 
the best of everything, and lived in as jolly a manner as possible. 

At the front the right and center sections lay in a state of 
doubt for two or three days, nut knowing whether they would 
move immediately or remain where they were for some time. In 
this unsettled state rail shelters were built consisting of sort of 
dog kennels made <d rails, which were covered with our ponchos. 
In front of these kennels good fires were kept as long as there was 
a rail to be had. On the 20th the right section received marching 
orders which were soon countermanded. In the afternoon several 
loads of infantry clothing and shoes arrived. How rejoiced were all 
to see this, lor we were suffering much from told, and our " bosom 
friends turned back-biters," as " Dick 11 called them. We had no 
change of clothing, and if any washing was done, we must wear 
our outer garments while our under ones were being washed and 
dried, and vice versa. Soap we had none; some made attempts to 
make a little, but how could it be done without grease? And 
grease was as easily obtained as soap from the commissaries. To 
u ash our clothes all we could do was to rub them as clean as pos- 
sible witl t soap, then thoroughly boil them. On the 21st we 

received our share oi some clothing that had arrived. It consisted 
ot seven shirts, five pairs of socks, eight or nine pairs of pants, 
and as man) overcoats for a section numbering thirty-five men! 
Lots were drawn to see which ones should have them, ami as is 
often the case when such things are left to chance, those least in 
need were the lucky ones. It appears from General Sheridan^ 
Memoirs that even these supplies had a different destination, 
ami were gotten for us b) him through a stratagem. 



134 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

Our horses fared even worse than the men. The rebels had 
spared neither foe nor friend, and when we came into that section 
there was not enough left to last the citizens till they could ''make 
craps" the coming summer. Yet we must live or the nation could 
not, and as there was nothing to be had through Knoxville, we 
divided with the people till neither they nor ourselves could find 
anything to eat there. Many of the citizens nocked to Knox- 
ville, where they fared little better than in the country. Govern- 
ment had all it could do to get rations to the post for the troops 
stationed there. After the boats began running to Louden, and 
the cars from there to Knoxville, we began to receive a few more 
hard tack. The mills for miles around were kept running when- 
ever corn could be got. Our usual rations were one pint of 
unsifted corn meal, one pound of beef, two spoonfuls of coffee and 
sugar, and a small pinch of salt, to last two days. That which the 
butcher styled beef might be so called only in the absence of a 
more suitable word. The cattle were so poor that to push them 
slightly would tip them over, so it required little to kill them, and 
here, as at Chattanooga and every other place in the army, 
the poorest animal was the one always selected to be skinned. 
Had those in better condition been selected the poorer ones would 
have died, and that would have been a dead loss to the butcher, 
for he would in that case hardly have dared to cut out the animal's 
heart, liver, tongue, etc., to sell them, and even the alleged beef of 
such shadows of cattle was probably better for us than nothing. 
We do not remember having seen a dozen cattle that were allowed 
to die of starvation during the whole of our soldier life, yet they 
were not fed as well as were the hundreds of horses and mules that 
starved to death on every hand that winter! 

Wagon trains were sent off toward the west, gathering up 
what little corn there was within thirty miles in that direction. 
Sometimes a train, well guarded, would be sent a short distance 
into the enemy's country, and then, everything eatable for man or 
beast was taken, for it was known the enemy had no more than 
we, and if we did not take the supplies they would, so that the 
citizens would have to suffer, no matter who got them. This will 
illustrate the sufferings of the loyal East Tennesseeans and ourselves 
during that memorable winter. 

Soldiers will be merry, and will know how to enjoy life, no 
matter what their surroundings. The poor, starving men of 



KNOXVILLE CAMPAIGN". L35 

A.ndersonville found means to amuse themselves by carving oul 
wooden plates, knives and forks, with and out of which to eat their 
soup and skin beef. The pinnacle of < Jlinch Mountain stood about 
a mile to the northeast of our camp. The men would climb its 
rugged sides, and from its summit view the surrounding picturesque 
scenery. With the aid of the captain's field u'k'> s - we could plainly 

see the rebel camps lying far below us, some miles to the 'theast, 

could trace the course lit' our wagon trains for many miles to the 
west; could plainly see the college standing boldly out on the hill 
near Knowille. and could catch a faint glimpse of the city itself, 
through the openings among the trees on the tops of the interven- 
ing hills. The view to the east was grand. Thecountry appeared 
like a magnified, beautifully terraced garden. Regular parallel 
ranges of hills, the farther higher than the nearer, till they became 
small mountain ranges then larger till they suddenly ended < to 
our view ) with the Smoky Mountains as the highest. After hav- 
ing feasted our eyes sufficiently on this enchanting scene, we 
would amuse ourselves for hours with our revolvers, hunting 
squirrels and wild sheep among the trees and rocks on the mountain 
side. We also found laurel on the mountain, and of it- root- made 
pipes. Whenever then- was snow enough to cover the ground, we 
would go out with our revolvers and generally bring in a rabbit or 
two. Then there were the various games of cards ami dominoes 
with which to pass away time at camp. All hooks that chanced to 
he stored away in the caissons during the march were now brought 
to light, and read and re-read till their leaves weresohadlv worn as 
to make them almost unintelligible. Besides all these, our atten- 
tion was daily called to the doings of the gray hacks ( not Johnnies ) 
for there was not one. even to our officers except, only as rumor had 
it — Gen. Sheridan who. if he chose, could not have the exciting 
pleasure of hunting this small hut fierce game. We had one man 
(detailed) who flourished under the sobriquet of u Kansas," who 
never took the trouble of making a search, save when standing by 
a warm tire, with one hand In his bosom, he would say. " A louse 
or no louse for a dollar!" and would always win the wager, he d 
either way. One of our own men complained bitterly of the rash 
the unsifted corn meal brought out on hi- hack, causing an almost 
constant itching there. "Shure and phat else is it hut the bran of 
the male a-coming right out through me skhin?" was his reason 
given for scratching himself so much. 



136 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

Nearly every day a few muskets and cannon could be heard to 
the northeast of us, and occasionally a squad of bare-footed, half- 
starved Johnnies would be inarched by to the rear. Christinas day 
passed gloomily enough. Our Christmas dinner consisted of a 
little "skin beef" fried on a stick held in the fire, boiled and stewed 
in a fry-pan or boiled in a mess-kettle and a little corn meal 
sprinkled into the soup, a corn cake and some coffee. We ate and 
thought of home. 

< )n the 30th Corp. Harter and Privates Henderson, Porter, 
Brown and Mundell arrived from Chattanooga. They had started 
with a long wagon train that was coining through, bringing the 
baggage of the division. At Charlestown they became tired of the 
snail pace of the train and started ahead on a hand car they pro- 
pelled by poling. Soon after they had gone, Wheeler attacked the 
train and was defeated. Arriving at Louden, they procured 
transportation to Strawberry Plains and then walked to the Bat- 
tery. They brought word that Corp. Brown was at Bridgeport to 
attend to our express matter that might come through from home, 
and that others were with the train, taking care of our baggage. 

On the 31st there was some cannonading in the direction of 
Knoxville, and it was feared that Longstreet had slipped by us and 
was attacking the place, but we afterwards learned that it was a 
salute fired in honor of Gen. Grant, who had arrived to see how 
matters stood in this department. Gen. Burnsidehad been relieved 
and Gen. Foster put in his place. As his (Foster) health would 
not permit his being at the front, the command devolved upon 
Gen. Parke. 

We opened the New Year. A. D. 1864, as we had closed the old 
one, by sitting around the camp fires and appearing as merry as 
larks, but all the time thinking of where we should get something 
for breakfast. 

On the 4th of January the center section moved their camp 
into the woods, where fuel would be more convenient. They 
built semi-huts out of logs and poles, covered them with pine 
boughs and ponchos, and then built huge log fires in front of the 
side they had left open. One night, after the captain and Nor- 
wegian had got up a very large pile in front of their shebang and 
had got the fire well going, they, " Billy Gegan" and others took 
their seats in the shanty to have a pleasant game of cards; when in 
the midst of the game they began to feel warm, and looking up, 



KNiiM II. IK C Wll' A ION. 137 

found their ponchos on the roof .-ill ablaze. Such scrambling as 
then was! But thev lost their roof and Bill's wagon cover was then 
brought into requisition. The poor Norwegian suffered for this. 
The captain had already given him extra dutj for various offenses, 
such as snoring in his sleep, cutting too much or too little wood, 
etc., till he had some twent} days extra duty to work out, and for 
the shanty's burning he received ten days more! 

Almiit this tunc some wheal flour was issued to us. This was 
received as a great luxury, but lo, when we had eaten it. it would 
not remain down! Nearly every man who ate of it was taken 
sick. It was soon learned that it was made from "sick wheat." as 
the citizens railed it. It was wheat that had grown in the bundle 
before being threshed. 

On the 5th the detailed men, Roach and Heiiienian. who had 
been left at the Widow Martin's, returned without horses; they 
claimed to have been taken prisoners and escaped. On the same 
day Captain Nailor, of the H'th Indiana Battery, arrived, lie 
came to get his men who wished to re-enlist, as the most of them 
had been out long enough. All the horses and harness we had of 
his he turned over to ns. That day part of Wood's division crossed 
the river, and we received orders to be ready to cross on the mor- 
row, which were afterwards countermanded. The same day Isaiah 
Harper, aged 33, enlisted at Chicago, Illinois, for our Batter) for 
the term of three year-. He had formerly been a member of this 
Battery, hut had been allowed to leave, as stated in the fore part of 
thi> work. 

On the 6th Ord. Gillette -tailed for Chattanooga to attend to 
the company's affair- there. That day was the first time there had 
been snow enough to cover the ground since we had been there, 
but it had not lacked in cold weat her. 

On the 8th our wagon trains returned empty, having been 
gone since the 30th ult, after forage. There was uone to be had 
unless they went on the east side of the river, and during this time 
the river was ton high to ford, and the current too swift to allow 
ferry boats to cross. 

On the 10th the 3d Brigade -tailed up the river <>n a foraging 
expedition. The center section sent all their horses along. The 
second day out, as thej were passing an opening in the hills that 

exposed them to the river, thej were tired u] b] a part} of rebels 

on t he opposite -ide. Three infantry-men were wounded, one of 



138 BATTERY M. FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

our horses was killed and another wounded. They went about 
thirty miles, but found the country so stripped that they came 
back with empty wagons. They returned on the 12th, on which 
day Sergt. Amberg, Privates Wright and Loomis arrived from 
Chattanooga. The same day Chas. D. Gammon, aged 21, and 
Thatcher Krum, aged 18, enlisted at Odell, Illinois for our Battery, 
and for the term of three years. 

On the 14th our tents and a portion of our baggage arrived in 
wagons in charge of Captain Batterson, our commissary; Wood's 
division crossed the river, and the 2d Brigade, with our right section, 
had orders to cross, but after reaching the bank they were ordered 
back to camp to wait till morning. 



CHAPTER XVII. 



On the 15th of January we were in motion by seven o'clock 
in the morning. Our final destination we did not know, neither 
did we know the real object of the movement, but from rumors 
many believed it to be to force Longstreet to an unconditional sur- 
render. We bad the rumor from a reliable source that Longstreet 
was upon the point of surrendering, having offered to do so mi the 
term's that Pemberton did at Vicksburg; but that Gen. Foster had 
decided to brave the- lion in his den by marching boldly up to Ins 
works ami demanding his surrender, or he would , well, per- 
haps do what he did. 

Our two sections having formed a junction, marched to a ford 
some distance below the cross road-, but found the river so high as 
to forbid our crossing. The night before had been quite warm and 
this day it rained from an early hour till near uight, in conse- 
quence, the river was rising rapidly. We hurried to a ford about 
two miles above. Upon reaching there the river was quite full of 
loose ice. the water so high as to nearly cover our guns, and half 
cover the chests. None but the drivers crossed with the carriages. 
Eagerly each piece was watched as though the uext instant was 
to be its last. The river here was about forty rods wide. As the 
carriages neared the opposite hank they were helped up the hank 
with ropes ready for the purpose. Maii\ of the half faun-lied 
horses could scarcel} stand after getting out of the water, and 
their feebleness was one of our causes for fear, for had one fallen. 
the swift current would have carried the whole team down the 
stream into deep water, which would have been certain death to 
the drivers and horses. Luckily all passed safely over. The men 
were ferried across in an old -cow about half a mile above. The 
infantry crossed at Strawberry Plain- and joined us in the after- 
noon. We crossed the railroad soon after four o'clock and camped 



140 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

near Beaver Creek, having marched ten miles. Our camp seemed 
like a Garden of Eden to us, for we found an abundance of corn 
for our horses, and secured enough during the afternoon to make 
us a bountiful supper. For water we had not far to go, and wood 
was abundant. 

We moved out at seven o'clock on the morning of the 16th, 
and at noon came to Bray's Mountain. Here we must halt for 
over an hour to allow the train ahead of us to get over the hill, 
which was about 500 feet high. The road over it was good, but 
our horses were so poor we had to double up till we had eighteen 
horses to a carriage, where, had they been in good order, six would 
readily have done it. Once on top, there was another splendid view 
of the country to the east. The atmosphere was in just the state 
to make objects appear near by. Smoky Mountains appeared so 
near that one fancied he could have discovered a man on them, 
had there been one there, although the mountains were over fif- 
teen miles distant. 

We could hear cannonading to the east, and were told that our 
forces were attacking the rebels above Dandridge. At four o'clock 
we reached the town, and marched through to the north side. 
Our cavalry was coming back in great haste and bringing word 
that the enemy was advancing on the town and would soon be 
there. The enemy was so near that some of their shells passed 
over the place. 

We took position near the edge of town and awaited their 
approach. They were using three batteries, two of which were 
near enough for us to reach them had we been ordered to fire. As the 
day closed, so did the battle — the rebels falling back several miles. 
Our infantry followed them some distance, and when our cavalry 
discovered the enemy had retreated, they advanced also. That 
morning the rebel, General Vance, brother of the governor of 
North Carolina, was captured by our cavalry. He had sent out a 
body of his cavalry, dressed in our uniform, to reconnoitre, and 
seeing a body of our men advancing, thought they were his, and 
thus allowed himself to be caught. At dark the Battery moved 
into town and camped, having marched twelve miles that day. 

About noon on Sunday, the 17th, the center section and 3d 
Brigade moved about tw T o miles down the French Broad River, to 
a ford, where two islands lay abreast. The 14th Illinois Cavalry, 
with a battery of mountain howitzers crossed ahead of them to 



KNoWII.l.K CAMPAIGN. 141 

inspect the country. The first part of the stream was not very 
deep, and was easily bridged for the infant r\ to cross. The second 
stream was much deeper. Bere mule wagons were placed, one 
ahead of the other, to form a bridge over which the infantry could 
cross. The guns crossed the firsi stream very easily, but the 
second one was so deep and swift that it was with great difficulty 
that No. 3 ^nn was saved. The drivers ami horses became dizzj 
and began to turn down the stream, where, had they deviated but 
twenty feet from the regular track, they would have sunk out of 
- i u" 1 1 f ! Through the strenuous efforts of the sergeant and the 
shouting of those on the wagon bridge, all reached tin- shun-. The 

sec 1 island was found to be well storked with corn, roughness, 

etc.. and when it was discovered that the third stream was SO deep, 
from the rivers having risen rapidly, and could not he crossed that 

afternoon, the men were not sorry, ami inn liately set to work to 

make themselves comfortable, ami having cared for their horses, 
they were soon parching corn over splendid rail tires. Some went 
so far as to -prepare a place to sleep, when up rode an officer ami 
said to the captain, L * Get hack from here as soon as possible, for 
the enemy is advancing ( we had heard fighting about two miles 
above for some time) and the river is rising so rapidly that in a 
short time you will he unahle to re-cross!" The latter was found 
to he the case, hut all reached the main laud in safety, do damage 
being done save the wetting id' some of the ammunition in the 
chests. The infantry crossed as fast as they could, some hurrying 
so that several tell into the river and took a very cold bath. It 
was impossible to save some of the wagons, as the river had risen 
so high as to sweep them away. 

Our section camped near the bank of the river and had just 
parched the last corn they intended to that night, while some were 
already asleep, when orders came to he ready in five minutes to fall 
in with the wagon train, which was then passing. We were soon 
in motion, our sections having formed a junction. As we passed 
the camps of the troops that had been there some time, we saw 
huge pile- of corn given to the flames, while many wagons were 
empty, and could a- w.dl a- not have carried many bushels of the 
precious -rain. But tin- was not the worst. The mill near town 

was full of corn meal, and instead of its being iss I then to the 

half famished men. or starving loyal citizens, or carried along to 
issue afterward-, it was shoveled into the river t<» prevent its falling 



142 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

into the hands of the rebels! At Mossy Creek, where large 
stores of clothing had been collected, hundreds of pairs of boots, 
shoes, pants, etc., etc., were burned rather than say to the unclad 
men, "Help yourselves, boys!" But this was not all. We had 
been marched against the enemy with the expectation of a hard 
battle, when half of the infantry had not a dozen rounds, and 
many only one or two in their cartridge boxes! And now we were 
fleeing before a phantom ! Scarcely a shot had been fired, so to 
speak, and here we were running for dear life. From what? The 
fancied pursuit of Longstreet with an army increased to many 
times the size of ours, by fresh arrivals from Virginia! 

It was said that Gen. Granger had offered to take his two 
divisions and hold the ground, and that when he was assured by Gen. 
Parke that to think of it was preposterous, "Little Phil." 
(Sheridan) said he would do it with our division! But no, the 
subaltern commanding, or the head chief at Knoxville, had a 
vision, and the hosts of the confederacy would swallow us all in a 
few hours if we did not hasten back to Strawberry Plains. It was 
thought we might make a stand there, if not, then Knoxville. with 
its natural and artificial defenses, was to be our shield. 

It was half past ten o'clock when the retreat began. About 
two hours later it begin to rain, an 1 continued till nearly dark of the 
next day. So many teams passing over the road soon broke 
through the frost, and the fast falling rain added to the water 
already on the ground made the roads in many places almost im- 
passable. A team would stall; "Catch hold of the wheels there, 
men, 11 the captain would call out. All would lift with all their 
strength, and after some minutes would succeed in extricating a 
carriage. Perhaps a horse would fall during the efforts made to 
advance. If he was not so worn out as to be unable to stand, we 
would lift him to his feet and steady him till terra-firma was again 
reached. If, however, as soon as we got him to his feet, he tumbled 
over again, Ave would unharness him, drag him to one side so 
the wheels of the carriages would not run over him; then, if there 
chanced to be an extra skeleton that had been able to keep up with 
us, it was put in in his stead, if not, we threw the harness on the 
carriage and moved on. From two o'clock till daylight we had to 
halt on account of the intense darkness. Fires were soon spring- 
ing up, and in a few minutes each was encircled by a body of weary 
men, many of whom soon dropped to sleep, nor awoke till long 



KNOXVII.I.K CAMPAIGN. 1 ['■', 

after the column was again in motion, and many of them not then. 
Had the enemy followed close behind as, as wassuppo3ed they were 
doing, hundreds of our sleeping comrades would have been captured. 
In many cases shaking, beating or kicking would rouse them only 
td an appeal to be let alone, when tune they had closed their eyes 

ill sleep. 

The cavalry was mostly in front of US, buf of that portion left 
to protect the rear, every few minutes one would come alongand bid 
us hurry, and stating that the rebels were following (lose and gob- 
bling even man who was left behind. 

As the darkness began to break the column moved on again. 
Whenever we came to a place in the road where the rocks were 
bare, it was dangerous for a man to attempt to ride. The horses 
were unshod, and if one attempted to pull, orstepped on an uneven 
Spot on the rocks, he would he sure to slip, and there wen- very few 
horses in the Battery that could keep from falling if they 
slipped the least particle. By noon No. 4 caisson horses had all 
played out. and the caisson was left with three of our men toguard 
it until the Battery could reach the plains and send back horses for 
it! We hardly expected to meet our comrades again, for from 
what the cavalry reported, a man was a prisoner as soon as he had 
got twenty rods behind our column, and here they were to stay 
some four miles from Strawberry Plains, the nearest protection 
after our army should have passed. 

The roads were now so had and the borses SO fagged out that 
we had to use our picket ropes and prolonges to fasten to the car- 
riages for the cannoneers ami the infantry to pull by. With about 
fifty men to each carriage, we wallowed through the hub-deep mud 
until Strawberry Plains was reached at 1 P. M. 

What a city was before as! One brick building, once an 
academy, now used as quarters for the men who guarded the tort 
that surrounded it. one frame house some distance from the bridge, 
two or three little buildings nearer it. and a block house that the 
rebels built on the west side of the river, some distance from the 
bridge, were all the traces there were of a town. This, we trusted, 
was the end id' that " Longstreet" so much talked of for some time 
previous; but not so, the " Longstreet" ended not till Knoxville 

was reached. 

At 2 P. M. we crossed the river on the railroad bridge, which 
was destroyed a day or two later to prevent the rebels using it. 



144 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

We pitched camp in some woods about two miles southwest of 
town. Rain-water was abundant if caught, but we had to go half 
a mile for water for coffee. That night, even with wet blankets 
for bedding, was about the sweetest night's rest we ever enjoyed. 
All were completely fagged out, and nothing could have kept us 
awake ten minutes after our fires were fairly burning. Hunger 
was almost forgotten, and soon was entirely so with most of us, 
who were entirely unconscious, lying before a good, warm fire. 
Rations could not be had that night save a very little beef, and 
probably not that had it not been feared that two cattle of the 
drove could not live till morning. 

On the morning of the 19th we drew six ounces of flour, some 
sugar, coffee and salt. During the afternoon a team was sent 
back to get the caisson left behind. It was found near the bridge 
and in possession of Gen. Willich, who, as he came to where the 
caisson was left and learned that it belonged to Gen. Sheridan's 
division, had his brigade haul it in, and refused to restore it to us. 
This was clone to retaliate for something of the kind Sheridan's 
men had done at the battle of Chickamauga. Our captain finally 
succeeded in getting it. 

Troops, especially cavalry, were passing en-route for Knox- 
ville all day. No enemy appeared. They must have had their 
hands full in taking care of the stragglers, whom they failed to 
catch in the rear of our column, and were thus unable to attend to 
eating us. 

On the 20th we drew three ounces of unsifted meal and the 
usual quantity of coffee, etc. It had been decided that the whole 
army must go to Knoxville. 

At 11 A. M. we started with our guns, leaving the caissons to 
be sent in by rail. We left eight men to guard them. The only 
thing that occurred on our road to the city, that was of much con- 
cern to us, was the fording of Flat Creek. This was successfully 
accomplished, but through great danger. We reached Knoxville 
at 5 P. M. and took quarters partly with the left section and partly 
with Lieut. Colvin's men till the next day, when we moved into 
the loft of a stable, where Lieut. Colvin kept his horses. The next 
day the enemy appeared at Strawberry Plains, but thanks to the 
foresight of Gen. Parke, the bridge had been destroyed, so all they 
could get across to our forces were a few shells and some bullets. 
They were u in force," having two or three cannon and nearly a 



KNnwn.i.K CAMPAIGN. 1 lo 

hundred cavalry-men! Who could withstand such a formidable 
host? Our men were ordered to put one caisson on the cars and 
to bury well and deep the ammunition of the others, and then cut 
and burn the carriages. This they did, and No. 1 caisson was the 
only one that reached Knoxville. Here also was much clothing 
destroyed ratherthan give it to the men! 

Thus ended our capture of thai famous Longstreet, but not 
the whole history of the ease. When night put an end to the 
skirmishing on the 17th. the rebels fell back to their works, think- 
ing our forces were advancing on both sides of the river, and would 
attack them on Momla\ . the 181 h. 

On that morning they lay still, expecting their vedettes or 
scouts would soon report us advancing. Noon came, but uo hlue 
hacks. In the afternoon their cavalry advanced as far as hand- 
ridge, and finding uo signs of Yanks, returned and reported how 
matters stood. Longstreet's men were not in condition to follow 
us, and it is probable he mistrusted a trap and chose to 
remain behind his works, so it was not until the 21 si that anybody 
of rebels got within cannon range of the plains. The few rebels 
who reached the plains discovered there was no trap about it. hut 
that the Yanks were as demoralized as a tlock of sheep with a 
wolf close behind them. Ungallantly taking advantage of this 

discovery, they followed close upon the heels of "'the last mall to 

leave, 11 and without the slightest opposition, captured a large drove 
of cattle within a tew miles of Knoxville; but were kind enough 

to leave ahoilt a quarter of t he drove ( which were too poor to drive 

off ) for us poor, starving Yanks. Thus ended that disgraceful 
campaign, of the management of which Gen. Sheridan speak- so 
indignantly in his Memoirs. 

<)n the 21st the drivers were sent into the country to forage 
for and fed their horses. Sergt. Murphy was sent in 
charge. They were to go to or beyond Clinch River, if thej did 
not find an abundance nearer. They started on the Jacksborough 
road and camped the first night on Beaver Creek. They found an 
abundance of good food for man and beast, but not enough to war- 
rant them remaining there. The [eft section horses had been sent 
out some time before, and the drivers reported a very rich district 
in the valleys of the Clinch. So. on the ~l'li\ they started ahead 
again. Every few miles they had to unhalter a horse that was too 
poor to go farther. This day the} cut aero-- to the Clinton road. 



146 BATTEKY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

and at night camped some distance to its right on Bull Run. They 
divided up that night, half of them stopping at a rebel's, and the 
rest making themselves at home with a milk-and-water union man 
named 'Squire Cooper. At both detachments the fare was sump- 
tuous. Splendid light biscuit, butter, honey, syrup, ham, eggs. 
" Oh, go 'way from me," would end the description the participants 
gave when detailing their luxuries. The horses fared equally well, 
enjoying all the corn and roughness they could eat. 

On the morning of the 23d things were taken coolly, there 
being no great hurry to resume the march, as it was intended to 
average only about eight miles per day — that being as far as the 
horses were thought to be able to travel — when some citizen ar- 
rived with the word that the rebels had got between there and 
Knoxville and that some were even then in that neighborhood. 
This was told to 'Squire Cooper, who immediately informed our 
men of the danger they were in. They sent one of their number 
post haste to inform the others. The two squads soon met about 
half way between their camps. They stopped to consult as to the 
best way out of there, when some shots were heard not far off. 
This was sufficient. The shots were fired to the southeast of them, so 
they went northwest, and soon struck the Jacksborough road again. 
Away they went, leaving the 'squire, doubtless chuckling over the 
success of his ruse. At noon they dined on the premises of one 
James Moore, who appeared to have an abundance of everything 
that was good, even to good looking daughters. At night they 
again divided, one lot stopping with a staunch union man, named 
Llewellyn, the others going about a mile farther and putting up 
with a rebel named Kirkpatrick. They were upwards of twenty 
miles from Knoxville, and within a mile of Clinch River. The 
country was teeming with all kinds of forage, there having been 
no soldiers through there in any great numbers — our men being 
the greatest number of Yanks the people had seen. Here was an 
Eden, and here they would pitch their tents (albeit they had 
none) and this should be their future abode till spring opened, and 
" March" should again be the command. But alas, after despatch- 
ing a royally superb supper, and while engaged in preparing their 
beds, two horsemen were seen to be approaching from the east, 
evidently urging their horses to their greatest speed. Could they 
be rebels? All ran to the road in the hope of being able to capture 
two prisoners. But alas, instead of two rebels ready for capture, 



KNOXV11.I.K i A.MPAIGN. 1 17 

they beheld Sergt. A.mberg and Jean Martine, and were told that 
all hands must be in Knoxville before daylight on the morrow to 
1m- ready to inarch for some place in the directi f Chatti ga. 

At 9:30 they started on the return. Tin- night was somewhat 
cool, hut as bright and calm a- can be when the moon is at it- lull. 
They started with not the slightest intention of returning emptj 
handed. At Moore's thej bad so loaded their horses with meat 
that it became necessary to throw som i of it away, to make mum 
for sacks of flour ami meal obtained at mills alone- the road. Bj 
daylight they had a complete assortment of delicacies ami substan- 
tial, ami we doubt if ever an\ of Sherman's bummers returned to 
camp with a load that gave more delight and satisfaction, to the 
beholders and the sharers, than did our men on the 24th of January. 

It was noon before they reached town, as they halted at a 
rebel's about live miles out. to feed ami take a rest. Hill was with 
them wirli his wagon, and had it filled with corn and oat- bundle 1. 
besides many things that were palatable to man. 

Many of those at camp had some good, square meal- from the 

proceeds of that expedition. I!ut the meat might as well have 

been left behind, for it was not salted sufficiently to keep for any 
length of time salt and coffee being so scarce among the citizens 
that they were ready to pay almost any price for a pound of 
either. The garrison had received a large drove of hogs from 
Kentucky,. and there was nothing to feed them with. If thej 
were not killed immediately they would lose so much in weight, and 
that would he a dead loss to the contractor-. There was not -alt 
enough at the post to think of salting them, so thej were killed 
and issued till we would receive no more. 

A- we were not prepared, the march was delayed. Our horses 
had to he shod. We must have more horse-, caissons and ammuni- 
tion, and perfect our eipiipnien t as far as possible Indole leaving. 

On the 25th we drew three caissons and ammunition to till 
them from the arsenal, forty-five horses and some harness from the 
6th Michigan Battery, and a sufficiency of such clothingas was in 
store at the post. New men came from the LOth Indiana Battery 
to relieve those who wished to go "vet.' 1 At night we answered 
to our names, as a battery, for the first time in five month.-. 

Order- were received t arch the next day, but, on the morning 

of the 26th, thej were countermanded. The horses were again 
sent out, this time under Lieut. Fluskey, and in the direction of 



148 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

the French Broad River. They fared nearly as well as did those who> 
went toward the Clinch, though the country was not so rich. 
Near where they stopped that night there was a ball at a union 
man's house. At this many of the boys enjoyed themselves. 

On the 27th the lieutenant returned to Knoxville to escort Bill, 
who brought in a load of corn. Just at dark orders came for us 
to march the next day. At midnight the lieutenant started to 
bring in the men and horses. He reached camp with them at 1 
P. M., on the 28th. 



CHAITKI.' Will. 



Knox ville, notwithstanding its boasted attractions, had no 
charms for us. and it was with willing hearts and ready hands we 
prepared to leave. But whither were we to go? To us it mat- 
tered little so that it was away from there. There had been 
rumors that an attempt by the rebels would soon be made to cut 
off our communications with Chattanooga, and that they had 
already reached the vicinity of Marysville. Loudon was then the 
head of steamboat navigation on the Tennessee, also the terminus 
of the railroad on the south side of Knoxville. This was the most 
important point, and thither we were to go. 

At 1:30 P. M.. on the 28th of January, we bid a final adieu to 
Knoxville and camped on a small creek about two miles out. The 
only troops accompanying us was the 74th Illinois, the others hav- 
ing gone on before. 

We resumed the march at 8:30 A. M.. and at 9:30 halted near 
an old house, then being used as a rebel hospital. In it were 
about twenty unfortunates from the charge on Fort Saunders. 
Some had lost an arm. others a leg, some an arm and leg, and one 
poor fellow, just ready to hid adieu to earth, had lost one leg and 
one of his arms, which had been taken off so (dose as to also take 
out his collar hone. We never had seen human beings in such 
abject misery as these were. They appeared to have very little to 
eat. iii fact, uone of the accessaries that beings in their condition 
would seem to require. They were their own nurses. 

The roads were in excellent condition, and we were surprised 

that it had not rai I the day before, as it seemed the rule that it 

should rain on the day we started. In the afternoon we concluded 
we had given the weather conductor the slip by leaving in the 
afternoon: hut near night it began to rain as though rejoiced at 
having discovered our escape, and had Keen aide to overtake us 
with a shower before we reached ' destination. 



150 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

At Campbell's Station, which, by the way, is some miles 
from any railroad, or anything else that one would think of calling 
a station, the houses were completely perforated with shell holes. 
Eight shells had entered the end of ;i house that presented at the 
end a surface of about 16x16 feet. This was some of Burnside's 
work while on his retreat from Loudon to Knoxville. One of 
Longstreet's cannon was yet lying in a held near by. where one of 
Burnside's guns had dismounted it. and there were several places 
where the underbrush was well cut up by bullets. At one place 
three of our men had been buried by union women, the rebels hav- 
ing left the bodies unburied, the}' burying only their own men. 
We camped that night on Turkey Creek, sixteen miles from 
Knoxville. 

It rained all day of the 30th, soon converting the roads into a 
bed of mire. It was nine o'clock before feed could be found for 
our horses, and then it was found some four miles nearer our des- 
tination. The owner of the corn found was a rich rebel, named 
Williams. He was at home and had his protection papers to show 
us. He complained bitterly about our taking his corn, and declared 
he knew not where he could get anything to feed his large family 
on till he could " make a crap." Lieut. Fluskey assured him that 
he would give him a voucher for the full amount taken, and this, 
with the consoling words Kirby Smith spoke to him, made him 
a little more reasonable. We left him about a hundred bushels 
of corn "to feed his large family on till he could make a crap/ 1 and 
proceeded on our way. Shortly after passing Lenoir Station were 
seen the ruins of many caissons and wagons destroyed by either 
Longstreet or Burnside some time before. 

The river opposite Loudon was reached at 2 P. M., and crossed 
by five o'clock by rowing across in small scows. Our guns were 
placed in position in a rude fort on the top of a high hill to the 
south of town. A large packing house furnished stabling for our 
horses, while the men took quarters in what was, before the war, 
the principal hotel of the place. In one end of this building was 
a sick rebel colonel with a rebel soldier for nurse. These rebels 
were visited daily by the ladies of the place, bringing in the choicest 
dishes they could produce. There were many sick union soldiers 
in town who needed assistance and luxuries as much as these rebels, 
and yet they received no such attention. However, it was remem- 
bered we w T ere not among friends, and said nothing. 



KNOXVILLE ( wir \h;n. i:»l 

Loudon bad apparently been a flourishing town before the war, 
but now the principal buildings were about ruined, while many of 
them were in ashes. The wealthier portion of the citizens had all 
gone to Dixie. Those who had not left before our forces took the 
place were immediately sent south by us. All who now remained 

were of the poor class, who could d harm if they did remain. 

Of this class there were about thirty families. 

Before the rebels fell back, at the time Burnside occupied the 
place, thev burned the large covered railroad ami wagon bridge 
that spanned the river hen'. Burnside came near capturing a 
couple of their trains, but rather than let them fall into his hands. 
the enemy fired the cars, and just as Burnside's advance was com- 
ing in sight, ran both trains into the river. 

Aiter the battle of Mission Ridge they ran three trains off the 
portion of bridge from the south side. At low water these ruins 
were in plain sight, and were taken up at a later date by ourpioneers. 

The next day. after reaching Loudon, one of our detailed men 
was taken down with small-pox. He had caught it at Knoxville, 
where it was making tearful ravages among the citizens and 
negroes, and had begun to appear among the troops. 

At 1 P. M.. on the 1st of February, orders were received to 
cross the river immediately, as it was rumored Longstreet was 
crossing between us and Knoxville. At half past five we were at 
the ferry and ready to cross. All hands worked hard, hut did not 
get over till nine o'clock; then camped near the hank, expecting 
to move forward at break of day next morning, hut at ten o'clock, 
on the 2d, we got orders to report back to lien. Sheridan. Think- 
ing we should most likely have the first use for our u'un< on the 
north side of the river, they were left there in a fort on top of the 
highest hill in the region, leaving a guard of twenty-four men 
under charge of Corporal Dolton. Our horses were ferried back to 
tlie south side, the packing house fitted up in good style for them, 
and the men resumed their quarters at the hotel, pitying tin' poor 
twenty-four, who were left on top of that bleak hill with onh 
tents for shelter. 

That day Samuel A. Murphy, aged eighteen, enlisted for our 
Battery for the term of three years. 

Alas, the pity we had felt for those out in the cold at the 
•runs was reversed on the tth! They had, got good shanties built 
and were free ami easy, while we had guard and police dutj to do, 



152 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

and besides, on this day, (the 4th) we were ousted from our hotel 
and had to build shanties for ourselves. The tavern was needed 
for a hospital. We got permission to tear down a couple of old 
houses in town to build shebangs of. Our camp ground was 
chosen at the foot of the hill on which our guns were first placed, 
and between it and the river. Our wood had to be hauled about a 
mile, and water from the river, whose bank at this side was about 
sixty feet high and almost perpendicular. 

In a few days all were comfortable and were beginning again 
to feel commiseration for the twenty-four. Again we were the 
ones to be pitied. While we must be up at dawn to answer to our 
names, they slept as late in the morning as the} r pleased. At noon 
and at night we must be at camp to again say "'here," or, if with- 
out a permit to be absent, would be pricked, and pricking was 
followed by extra duty. Another thing: Boats were now arriving 
almost daily. They would unload on the north bank, their cargoes 
then having to be hauled to the railroad and loaded on the cars to 
be shipped to Knoxville. The teams had to pass near the camp of 
the twenty-four, who appointed themselves inspectors in general. 
Stationing themselves in the ravine through which the teams had 
to go, (they chose this spot on account of its being warmer than 
on top of the hill where the depot was — they had no other reason 
for it ) they closely inspected each load, the drivers recognizing 
their right to search, and if they found a barrel with too much 
sugar in it, too many boxes of hard tack, too many pieces of bacon, 
too many shoulders, too many sacks of coffee, too many boxes of 
soap, stationery, candles, or too much of anything in the wagon, 
they always took that overplus out, and, by right of confiscation, 
appropriated it to their own use. Of course they found great 
quantities of these contraband articles, and as they could not use 
them all at that time, and there was danger of their spoiling if 
left exposed to air, they buried them for future use. There were a 
few "sardine boxes" (this title was bestowed upon all officers by 
many of the Tennessee ladies, and, of course, the army was not 
slow in appropriating it) who were jealous of the high authority 
of these twenty-four, and did all they could to oust them from 
office, but without effect. We at first lamented that we were 
not where we could be appointed the twenty-four's deputies; but, 
as they soon had such a store on hand that they would not take 
their share of the rations drawn, we began to be a little more 



KNOXVILLE CAMPAIGN. 1.53 

reconciled to our Lot. The cars began to arrive from Chattanooga 
on the 11th. This gave us a chance to ad as inspectors, for they 
soon began to bring in rations. 

While lying al the cross roads one of our "nons 11 had some 
words with a private, both u sing abusive language. On the 12th 
the private was arrested for using abusive language to his superior. 

On ihf 13th the pay rolls were signed. At night then' was 
quite an alarm in camp. Many thoughi the post had been attacked 
and rushed out of their tents to see what was the matter. Cer- 
tainU there had been a cannon tired at no great distance. After 
Listening some time and hearing nothing more, all returned to 
their bunks, and learned next day that some infantry had found a 
shell and thrown it into the fire to see if it would explode. We 
often saw infantry playing with these life-destroyers as though 
the) were harmless toys, and knew of many who paid dearly for 
their heedlessness. 

Pioneers were now at work in great numbers at rebuilding the 
bridge, and. on the 15th, they began to raise it. It was slow work, 
as it was necessary to build four bridges, one on top of the other. 
First a low trestle of three heights of posts was built, and then a 
high trestle on top, after which the lower works were knocked out 
from under. 

A^mong ourselves the time was passed in shell work or the 
various camp games. Every (dear day we would have a game of 
ball. We also introduced a game that "Father" (give "a" in 
father the sound of "a" in had) called i; pig-in-the-hole-ah, 11 which 
u as soon the favorite. 

On the loth Ord. Grillett and Beadle arrived from Chattanooga. 
The same day the rumor was circulated that Longstreef had 
received large Reinforcements and was marching with 20,000 men 
on the south side and L0,000 on the north side of the river to the 
siege of Knoxville. Several veteran regiments had reached Loudon 
en-route for home, but now they had to return to Knoxville. 

On the 17th we received two months' pay. At -i\ o'clock, 
that afternoon, the captain gol orders to send one section to Sweet- 
water, twelve miles down the railroad. The righl section, under 
Lieut. Burton was chosen to go. Their guns crossed the river 
immediately. The ferrymen declared we ought tobeonagun- 
boat, for we were a floating battery anyhow, so often had the) to 
ferry us to and fro. 



154 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

The section did not leave till next morning - , and then it went 
in company with the 3d Brigade. At Sweetwater, the inhabitants 
of which were all rebels, they took quarters in empty houses, and 
had a grand time while they remained there. 

On the 19th the arrested private was courtmartialed and some 
days later his sentence was read. He was to lose three months' 
pay and to return to duty. The same day four men returned to 
the 10th Indiana Battery. 

At 1 P. M., on the 22d, the right section returned and imme- 
diately fired a salute of thirty -four guns in honor of the day. It 
was thought best to keep those guns on that side of the river, in 
case they might again be called out in haste. Seventeen men from 
Battery G, 1st Missouri, arrived to relieve as many from the 10th 
Indiana Battery, who left that day. 

On the 23d a few of Longstreet's Indians came in. They 
were headed by their chief. He wanted to know if his tribe would 
be pardoned if they returned to their loyalty. Being encouraged, 
the chief left his men (among them his son) as hostages, while he 
went back to bring in more. A iew days before this the Cherokee 
Indians, under the noted Thomas, found themselves suddenly 
awakened early in the morning, by the 14th Illinois Cavalry order- 
ing them to surrender. The cavalry captured a number of prisoners 
and the entire camp equipage with the loss of but few men. 
Among their mortally wounded was Lieut. Capron, son of Col. 
Capron. He died on the road back. His body passed through 
Loudon on the 11th of February. This total rout and defeat 
caused the Indians to lose all faith in the confederacy, and if their 
Great Father, at Washington, would let them go unpunished, they 
would again become his children — and gladly too. 

It was a feature of the confederacy to have everything as near 
like the old block as possible, notwithstanding their protestations 
against anything connected with the union. As soon as the 
veteran subject was started in our army they took it up, and many 
of their regiments re-enlisted, because they saw they might as well 
do that as not. for they would be held as long as there was war 
anyway. Some of these went in for forty years, or during the 
war; while others showed their patriotism more strongly by enroll- 
ing their names for during the war or forever. Not to make it 
appear as entirely a farce, their government allowed a few of them 
to go home on a furlough, the same as the Yanks were doing. 



KNOXVILLE CAMPAIGN. 155 

Some of these gray back "vets 11 were al Lome aear Levierville, 
merrily enjoying themselves, when our cavalry took them in. 
They were the best clothed Johnnies we saw during the war. 

On thf 25th Gen. Sheridan lefi for borne on leave of absence. 

On the morning of the 27th our camp was thrown into a state 
ol great excitemenl by the finding of a dead body near our horses. 
By his trousers we recognized him as belonging to the bridge 
builders. They were immediately notified. It appeared from 
what they said that the man had small-pox and caught cold during 
his recovery. He had been deranged Eor several days, and during 
that night had escaped from his tent and must have killed himself. 
That day Harper, a recruit, joined us. and John Hammond was 
brought back under arrest as a deserter. The same da\ Lieut. 
Fluskey and Artificer Trumbull went to Chattanooga to get the 
fragments of the Battery that were still there, viz: many of our 
tents, nearly all of our baggage, the Battery wagon and forge, the 
company's records, etc., etc., together with the men left to 
guard them, and take all to the Battery. 

That day Corpora] Schnasse, id' gun •">. was promoted to 
sergeant, and Private Adler to corporal of the same. 

On the 29th Hans Johnson, aged twenty-four, and George 
Johnson, aged twenty-one, enlisted at Thornton, Illinois, for the 
term of three years tor our Battery. 

On the 2d of March the right section had orders to move to 
Charleston to guard bridge builders, hut after they were ready to 
start the order was countermanded, the 23d Indiana Battery going 
in their stead. 

On the 5th two recruits. Krum ami Alhee. arrived. One 
man. Ebin Gower, who enlisted when they did. died in the bospi- 
tal soon after leaving home. 

On the loth some of the Hurloughed men having returned, (for 
we had been allowed four for the Battery: Morgan Banks. \\ right, 
Win. Hamilton and Carey being deemed most in need id' them) 
the two former started for home. 

On the 12th the reign of the twenty-four, whose number had 
increased to thirty, was suddenly terminated by the captain con- 
cluding lie would have the Battery all together once more. 

On the 18th the Battery was inspected l>\ Capt. Edgerton, who 
had heen our chief of artillery ever since taking position at the 
works in front of Chattanooga. 



156 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

The same day Hamilton and Carey started for home on fur- 
lough. 

The 1st and 2d Regiments of Ohio Heavy Artillery were now 
detailed to act as guards and garrison the fortified points from 
Chattanooga to Knoxville. On the 16th one company of the 1st 
arrived at Loudon. Some time before, six new Rodman guns 
had arrived for Henshaw's battery. As these " heavy men" were 
to have charge of field guns principally, they were ordered to take 
these and drill on them. They had served over two years, but 
only as infantry, and therefore did not know how to mount the 
guns. We had to do it for them, and then, after the guns were 
hauled up into the fort, we sent a detail regularly to drill their 
officers and men. On the 19th they were ordered up to Knoxville, 
and the guns were left for us to guard. 

On the 21st the sanitary commission sent a pailful of sour 
krout and a few dozen onions to the invalids of the Battery. 

During the night of the 22d snow fell to a great depth. At 
Chattanooga fifteen inches fell! This was something rare for 
that district. When this melted and the spring rains had well 
set in, the river rose so high as to carry away a great portion of 
the new bridge, and for some time all work ceased on it, the men 
being sent down the road to rebuild the bridges washed away be- 
tween here and Chattanooga. When anything like that happened 
there was a break of several days in our mails. Sometimes a squad 
of rebels would capture and burn a train; then we would be in a 
state of uneasiness till we learned positively whether the mail was 
lost. A letter from home was now our greatest concern. 

The method the rebels adopted for capturing trains was to 
put a torpedo under the track at some point they could safely 
watch, and then, if the train was broken in two and had not too 
strong a guard along, they would rush down upon it, sack it and 
then burn it. 

On the 23d two more men arrived from Battery G, 1st Mis- 
souri. On the next day all the 10th Indiana Battery men returned 
to their battery, and Lieut. Fluskey, Thompson, Titus and Gammon 
arrived from Chattanooga. 

On the 25th Corporals Mercer, Korah and Brown. Privates 
Bonser, Dyson, Wagonmaster Briggs, and others, who were left at 
Chattanooga, or had returned there from hospital, arrived, bringing 



KNOXVILLE CAMP LIGN. 157 

everything we had left behind when starting from Knoxville. 
Little " Battery" was with them, and righl glad were all tosee him 
among as again. 

Thai nighl Gen. Sheridan returned and was serenaded by the 
band of the 2 It h \\ isconsin. 

A.rmed with haversacks and canteens, we marched out beside 
our guns, on the 27th, to again be reviewed by Capt. Edgerton. 
He found many of us poorly supplied with the above mentioned 
articles, and ordered them to be immediately furnished us. " But," 
said he to our captain, " have you no more non-commissioned offi- 
cers than these wearing their chevrons?" Our captain informed 
him that it had not been the custom in the Battery for the nons 
to wear their badges of office. The captain said thai must go no 
farther. We must distinguish our nons Prom privates. Out of 
our whole number <d' nons there were not more than two or three 
who wore their stripes at that time, and neither did they till overa 
year later, notwithstanding the order to wear them. We were not 
a stylish Battery, and anything that approximated show was dis- 
countenanced. The red stripes on OUr jackets, when received, were 
move than most of us could endure, and they were ripped off be- 
fore the jacket was thought tit for wear. The two or three 
unlucky fellows who presumed to show their colors wore them very 
rarely. 

On the 27th, after tramping around through a weed-covered 
field for several hours on review, we hade a last adieu to our Little 
Phil. At 3:30 P. M. Gen. Sheridan left us for a field where he 
won eternal fame ami justified the confidence felt in his bravery 
ami ability by those who had served under him in the Army of the 
Cumberland. The band of the 24th cheered him with some Lively 
airs as he started: Gen. Granger accompanied him to Chattanooga. 

Before the train left that bore the general from us. the bridge 
men struck for higher wages. It was reported to Gen. Granger. 
He had the whole posse man lied out on the bridge and a guard 
stationed at the mid. so as not to allow a man to reach shore. 
Here they were informed they should stay till they were willing 
to return to work. There they were, eighty fcrt above the water, 
the weather cold, the wind blowing quite hard and sweeping freely 
by them, no tires to warm them, no clothing on. only such as they 
were at work in. no food, and to have mme till work was resumed! 
Truly, this was no enviable condition, especially as the general had 



158 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

hinted at shooting ring leaders! Bnt they held out firmly till next 
day, when, suffering much from cold and beginning to feel hunger, 
one after another resumed his work, and by the second day work 
was as lively as ever; but a strong guard was kept over these men 
for some time. 

A few days later " The Deacon's Son 1 ' came into camp in 
high glee. " I've had a long talk with Gen. Granger," said he. 
Of course we were all anxious to learn the burden of their con- 
versation, not knowing but the general had disclosed to him all the 
plans of the coming campaign. " Well, 1*11 tell you how it was. 
I was out on the bridge looking at the men to see how they worked 
under guard, when the general came out too. When he came up to me 
he looked at me, and said he, 'Are you one of these workmen? 1 
' No, sir,' said I. ' Where do you belong?" ' Up there at that camp," 
I answered. 'Then get there as soon as you know how, or I'll 
help you along with my boot.' And that was what he had to 
say." The deacon's son disappeared amid a roar of laughter. 

On the 29th we drew new equipments for our guns, and car- 
riages. At noon all were assembled in haste and given just twenty 
minutes to have our horses hitched up. and we have our best 
clothes on. All thought there must be something strange 
going to happen when we should be told to put our best clothes on, 
and upon inquiry were told that " Gen. Sherman is to be here in 
twenty minutes, and we are to fire a salute upon his arrival." The 
day was cold and misty, and the men stood by their guns till two 
o'clock before he appeared. Our guns were on our usual review 
ground about half a mile west of town, and near the railroad. As 
the train approached we fired a salute of thirteen blanks. Upon 
seeing the general at the depot, we thought it queer that a retired 
farmer, as he appeared to be, should have been placed in command 
of so many armies, but upon looking at his high, broad forehead, 
and seeing foresight and determination so strongly written in his 
every feature, we were willing to trust to his care all our hopes for 
the success of our armies. 

The same day Hammond's sentence was read to us. He was 
to forfeit all pay, and to work at hard labor in some military 
prison till the close of the war. 

It might be stated here that when the orderly was absent his 
duties usually devolved upon "Charley." One day while the orderly 
was at Chattanooga, Charley got a little too much commissary 



KNox vii. U-; CAMP UGN. 1 59 

on board, or, as he stated it. he had assorted too much corn, 
and when the men were in line to answer to their names, he could 
hardly keep his feet. He dropped his pencil, and stooping to pick 
it up, he hesitated. ''Captain," said he, "which is the right one? 
I can see just a half dozen there." Sergeani Duffy declared he 
would be a cute fellow it he was only well fed. 

On the 30th Lieut. Burton received his commission as senior 
1st lieutenant, vice Geo. W. Spencer, promoted. The captain and 
lieutenants must have a "time" over this good luck. All hands 
were invited to headquarters, where there was an abundance of 
commissary, singing, jesting, toasting, etc., till a late hour. During 
the course of the proceedings the captain informed the audience 
that Lieut. Burton would probably soon receive another promotion, 
that he had sent in his resignation accompanied by such good 
reasons, among which was the plea of his incompetency to com- 
mand, that he thought there would be no doubt of its success. 
(This paper was returned by Gen. Granger with the note that tin 1 
captain would have to show some signs of incompetency before 
that plea would l>e received.) Newton's appointment as company 
clerk was also announced. 

On the 31st Lieut. Burton was mustered out as senior 2d 
lieutenant, and on the 1st id' April mustered in as senior 1st lieu- 
tenant. 

On the 8th Wood's division arrived from Morristown, en-route 
for Cleveland, where our corps was to re-organize. 

On the 9th Capt. Colvin arrived from home and paid us a visit. 

Gen. Howard arrived in the afternoon on the dummy to take 
command of the 4th Corps, relieving Gen. Granger. The dummy, 
before mentioned, many of us had seen running between Chicago 
and the junction on the Pittsburgh, Ft. Wayne & Chicago Rail- 
road. It was now down here in the service of the Government. 

One man, belonging to the 24th Wisconsin, hut detailed into 
our Battery from Battery 0. 1st Missouri, returned to his regiment. 

On the 10th Corp. Judd was mustered out of the service to 
receive a commission as 1st lieutenant in the 7th Illinois Independ- 
ent Mattery. 

On the 1 1th there was a grand review id' the whole command 
lying at Loudon, even to the mule wagons, by Generals Granger 
and Howard, preparatory to the former leaving ami the latter 



100 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

assuming command. The same day Thompson was made corporal 
on gun 5, vice Alder, reduced to the ranks at his own request. 

On the 13th the bridge was so far completed as to warrant a 
test of its strength. In the afternoon the locomotive, Greenville, 
with one passenger car, made a trial trip, and all proving satis- 
factory, through trains began running from Chattanooga to 
Knoxville. Hamilton returned from home on the 14th. 

At noon on the 16th orders were received from Gen. Wagner, 
who was temporarily in command of the division, to be ready to 
march on the Monday following. That portion of the division 
which was encamped on the north side of the river began to cross 
to the south side, so as to be ready to all move at once. We were 
relieved from our charge of the six guns in the fort by the arrival 
of the 5th Tennessee Infantry, come to take charge of the post. 
On the 17th, as the 88th Illinois Infantry was crossing the bridge, 
Lieut. Gibson, of Company B, fell off and was drowned. 

It was now quite warm weather. This portion of Tennessee, 
although subject to sudden changes, yet generally enjoys a climate 
that seems like perpetual spring. The warmest portions of the 
year are varied by days so cool that one feels the cold quite as 
much as he does a cold snap in mid-winter, and the next day is 
quite similiar in its effects upon the feelings of man as the bright 
day after a long cold spell in spring. 



PART IV. 

Atlapta Canppaigp. 



CHAPTER XIX. 



The Atlanta Campaign did not begin on the 3d of May. when 
the vast army under Sherman commenced its forward march; but 
when the first plans were laid, when the many parts of the army 
were consolidated on paper, and when those parts were drawn in 
about one general nucleus, reaching from Chattanooga to Cleve- 
land. With our Battery — yes, with our division- it began on the 
18th of April. The day before we had prepared everything for a 
move, whither we knew not, save that it was in the direction of 
Chattanooga. We were up by five o'clock, on the 18th, and bade 
adieu to Loudon at a quarter past seven. At half past eleven we 
passed through Philadelphia, where we patronized the loyal to the 
extent of buying a few pegged, or sewed pies. 

Our camp ground that night was fourteen miles from Loudon. 
We broke camp next morning at seven, and camped at half past 
twelve, about a mile north of the beautiful, quiet village of Athens, 
having marched thirteen miles. We enjoyed ourselves muchly, as 
"Charley" would say, during that afternoon, the citizens being 
mostly all union and very sociable. The 100th Illinois had been 
there for some time and had so worked upon those, who were at 
first inimical, that they now really liked the sight of Yanks. 

On the 20th we were off at half past six and at two reached 
Calhoun, forty-one miles from Loudon. This, at that time, was a 
small, forsaken-looking village, with nothing but women and 
children in it. We crossed the Hiwassee River that forms the 
division between Bradley and McMinn counties and separates those 
twin sisters in wretchedness, Calhoun and Charleston. Having 
safely crossed on the pontoon, we next sought out a suitable camp 
ground, for we expected to remain here several days. At last the 
sum in it of a hill to the easi of the village was selected, and reached 
with much trouble, giving our horses a very hard pull. <>n this 



164 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

hill the rebels had built a small fort, which commanded Calhoun. 
That and some brush and stumps were all the wood we could find 
with which to make ourselves comfortable. Water was abundant 
in the river, but it cost more effort than it was worth to descend 
and climb that steep hill. Add to this the dullness of the place, 
and there is no wonder that all were willing — even anxious — to 
resume the march next morning. That night we drew rations, 
and over the meat there was considerable fault found. The quar- 
termaster had issued it for two pounds to the man, but it was very 
evident there was not near so much. One man, " Growler, 11 com- 
plained bitterly, at which our captain, who was formerly a butcher, 
offered to bet him five dollars it would hold out weight. The man 
immediately took the meat to some Government scales, when it 
was found to be about a pound and a half. As the man received 
his five dollars, " There, 11 said he, "there is only $1.50 lacking," 
alluding to the $6.50 of his pay that had been stopped on account 
of the Louisville affair, in which he had been implicated. 

This day Conners, on detail to us from Battery G, 1st Mis- 
souri, whom we had left in hospital at Loudon, died. 

On the morning of the 21st we were off at seven, and reached 
Cleveland at half past twelve, twelve miles from Charleston and 
twenty-eight from Chattanooga. As we passed through the town we 
were rejoined by Sergt. Hansell, who, being tired of hospital life, 
had got back to the Battery before his wound was sufficiently healed 
to warrant it. but no evil results followed. We also found three 
recruits whom many of us had known at home. Samuel A. Mur- 
phy, a brother of our quartermaster sergeant, and Hans and 
George Johnson, from Thornton, Illinois. That day Brig. Gen. 
John Newton took command of the division. Gen. Wagner had 
commanded it on the march. 

We camped on a beautiful, grassy slope at the foot of a hill, 
within a few rods of Mouse Creek, and about half a mile south- 
west of Cleveland. Wood was abundant, and a splendid spring 
near by made our camp all that was desirable. 

Charles C. Fuller, of gun 1, was transferred to the navy depart- 
ment on the 24th. 

' Cleveland is a handsome little town at the junction of the 
East Tennessee & Virginia Railroad with the Chattanooga & 
Knoxville Railroad, and contains about three thousand inhabit- 
ants, nearly all of whom are staunch unionists. 



ATLANTA CAMPAIGN. L65 

Here was a large copper foundry thai was completed about 
the outbreak of the war. When Gen. Wilder took the place dur- 
ing the battle of Mission Ridge, his men burned this foundry 
before they knew the sentimenl of the citizens. After they had 
destroyed this and the railroad for miles on either side of the place, 
the) concluded to remain there that night. The} were imme- 
diately beset by the union portion of the citizens to eat and take 
lodgings with them. 

On the 25th Lieut. ETuskey, with fifteen men. went to Chat- 
tanooga on the cars for some horses that were said to be coming 
through from Nashville. They did not Hml the horses there, so 
they took quarters with the K»th Indiana Battery, and the next 
day got aboard the train to go to Nashville. At the instant the 
train started, the lieutenant received orders that the horses would 
be in that night, so they jumped off. They took quarters at the 

soldiers" home, where thev f id a n v quantity of gray backs, and 

received coffee, hard tack, soft bread and boiled bacon to eat. For 
dishes thev were furnished with only a tin cup and a tin plate 
to each man. there being no knives, fork- nor spoons. 

The horses not arriving on the 27th, those who desired were 
furnished passes ami visited Lookout .Mountain. 

On the 28th thev drew thirty convalescent horses, thev and 
('apt. Bridges taking the lot. ('apt. Bridges receiving the odd num- 
bers and thev the even, thus invariably separating teams that had 
been matched. They started in the afternoon, and. fording 
Chickamauga Creek, camped about three miles farther east at a 
house, where they were supplied with such delicacies as milk, butter, 
etc. and reached camp the next day. having left one crow-bait on 
the road, and having demolished all the commissary they had supplied 
themselves with on leaving Chattanooga. During this time we at 
the Battery had been out target practicing, firing a few rounds each 
day. This day there was a grand review of the entire corps by 
(Jen. Howard. The 10th Wisconsin Battery was attached to our 
division. 

We now painted our carriages and turned over our old harness 
and ammunition, and instead of the former, drawing new. but for 
the latter we received condemned ammunition that was far worse 
than that we had turned over. We wore quite the appearance of 
a new battery, hut claimed to he "the same old Battery, only we 
Inn! new harness." 



166 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

On the 1st of May we received thirty men from the 3d Wis- 
consin Battery, and received orders to send all onr extra baggage to 
the rear for storage; but, as a burned child always shuns the fire, 
we thought of Bridgeport, and concluded not to send any more. 
What we could not carry along was either burned or thrown away 
before leaving. 

In turning over the ammunition, we had retained several hun- 
dred fuses, and, on the night of the 2d, had a splendid pyrotechnic 
display. Two parties were formed around some fires, and they 
began shelling each other by throwing lighted fuses to and fro. 
Some we would attach to light, slim sticks and send them up as 
sky rockets. The infantry watched us for some time, and then 
the 79th Illinois and another regiment began a battle with fire 
brands. First one regiment would be driven back to its camp, 
where, securing, in some instances, half rails, they would rally and 
drive the other back. This was kept up till long after taps. 



CHAPTER XX. 



Orders were received on the 2d of May that on the 3d we 
should move at twelve o'clock, and. for once, we started to the 
minute, as did the whole division. About 3 P. M. the cavalry mei 
some rebel vedettes and skirmished with them, losing two or 
three men. The railroad track had Keen torn up nearly the whole 
distance the ties being used to heat the rails, which were then coiled 
around trees or telegraph poles, or bent out of shape by sagging 
down in the middle, their two ends being supported on piles of ties. 
This had been done by our cavalry at the time they first occupied 
Cleveland. Our camp that ni^iit was a short distance south of Red 
Clay, which is on the State line, therefore we camped in Georgia, 
after having made fourteen miles that afternoon. 

On the tth the division was up at 6:15 A.M., and at nine o'clock 
began to move slowly, throwing out skirmishers. We crossed the 
Tiger Creek twice, ami upon approaching it the third time, formed 
line in an open field, as the rebels were ^u | »| m >>.■(! to he advancing 
tip the valley from the south. This was at 1 I'. M. The infantry 
moved up and down a range of bills near by several times. At six, 
as the enemy did not appear, we moved a mile and a half soiithand 
camped for the night, the Battery being far away from the division. 

The next morning the Battery joined the division at Catoosa 
Springs, about a mile to the west, and camped, expecting to lie still 
a day or two. Most of us visited the springs, tasted the various 
kind- of water judging from the names about forty and faith- 
fully recorded the names of all in our diaries. After passing 
through the Congress, Sulphur, Chalybeate, etc.. till we came to 
one that astonished us. Even to pronounce it properly was a 
puzzler! There it was in large capitals, and we slowly wrote down 
each that there might he no mistake, for we could not spell it unless 
looking al the word: C-h-a-u-t-m-o-b-o-u-s-g-a! All would repeat 



168 BATTERY M. FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

the letters over and over again, no pronunciation seeming grand 
enough for such a huge name — until some cruel hearted monster 
hinted that it would be well to use the odd letters first, and 
then the even ones, and see what the word then looked like. We 
walked back to camp, feeling very wise. 

Orders were issued on the 6th that cannoneers must carry their 
baggage. No more mail to go north for fifteen days. After about 
three days this latter was proved a hoax; but the former was a 
reality. Now much clothing we had thought to carry along had 
to be sacrificed. 

The 10th Wisconsin Battery was transferred to the cavalry, 
and Battery A, 1st Ohio, Capt. Goodspeed commanding, became 
our associate in this division. 

On the 7th. all being now ready throughout the army, the 
l " general" was again sounded, and all were soon moving. At 5 A. 
M. we pulled out, and retracing our steps till after crossing Tiger 
Creek, bore to the south around a large hill. The road was very 
rough, and as No. 6 caisson broke its pintle hook, the caisson body 
had to be left by the roadside. At seven o'clock, having reached 
the crossing of the old Alabama road, we formed line, not knowing 
but the enemy might attempt a sally through the gap of the high 
range of hills on our left, of which Rocky Face is only a much 
more elevated portion. Our Battery took position while the 
cavalry advanced cautiously to inspect the country on our left 
flank. We could hear cannonading some distance to the south, 
and judged our forces must be near Tunnel Hill, so we moved on. 

As we advanced on the wooded portion of the road, it was 
found blockaded with trees felled across it at every possible point. 
These had to be removed before our artillery ami wagon trains 
could proceed, consequently our progress was slow. At 1:30 P. 
M. w r e came to an opening from which could be seen Tunnel Hill. 
Rocky Face and the intervening country. Rocky Face w T as directly 
east, about a mile distant, and Tunnel Hill about two miles south. 
We here camped, having marched about eight miles. 

During the afternoon Capt. Aylshire joined us. He came 
from Nashville to take the position of chief of artillery of the 
division. We sent a limber back to bring up the broken caisson. 
which, the next day. was sent to Chattanooga to lie exchanged for 
a whole one. The Battery remained ready to move all day, only 
unharnessing at 7 P. M. 



ATLANTA CAMPAIGN. 169 

At twelve o'clock at night the right section, under Lieut. 
Burton, was sent out to take position, if possible, on the summit 
of Rocky Face. The enemy had possession of the whole east 
side of the ridge and pari of the west. The section, with infantry 
support, moved to the north end, and, with the assistance of two 
regiments, they succeeded in getting their guns into position by 
daylight having had to pull them up the mountain and the whole 
distance on top h\ hand, at times having to carry one side of the 
carriage to keep il from tipping over, as in places the rock;} sum- 
mit was too narrow for a wagon to pass. The position was one 
which the eiieiii\ had pronounced inacessihle to artillery, and not 
a little were they surprised when at sunrise our guns opened on 
them in the valley below from the top of Rock} Face! A shell 
exploding in one of their forts caused them to speedily withdraw 
from it. Another shell was exploded near a body of men in an 
open field, which caused them to run in all directions in search of 
shelter. We tired but a lew shots, as it was hard work to carry 
ammunition up the rocky sides of the mountain. As the day 
advanced ami the burning heat id' the sun began to pour almost 
directly down upon them, our men suffered much for want of 
water. We carried considerable to them in canteens, hut there 
were so many to drink it that there was little left with which to 
make coffee, an indispensable beverage with the soldier. Ahout 
noon the infantry were forced to fall back a few rods in order to 
have equal chances with the rebel sharpshooters on either side of 
the mountain. This left gun 2 between the two fires. The can- 
noneers had to lie prone on their faces during the whole afternoon. 
At 5 P. M. Col. Barker rode up ami examined the position. 

•• Hoys." said he. " that gun must con ut id' there." and without 

waiting for further orders, Company I - ], of the 51st Illinois, rushed 
forward, and grasping the piece on all sides, hauled it off. They 
paid dearly for it. for many fell before they had reached the sup- 
port. The two guns tired twenty-eight rounds during the day. all 
with good effect. 

Ahout six o'clock that morning the rest of the Battery moved 
to the north end of Rocky Face, and thence ahout a mile down the 
wesl valley. Here it lay for some time in quite an exposed posi- 
tion, and where it could have done no good had it been tired upon 
by the rebel battery near the south end id' l-!ock\ Face. This bat- 
tery sen! several shells bv us. Lnt none -truck near. Willich's 



170 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

brigade whs on the side, and at the foot of the mountain, engaging 
the enemy, and what bullets passed his men struck near us. After 
awhile we moved back to some dense woods, about half a mile to 
the rear and camped. 

The cars arrived about noon. The engineer, for sport, ran 
his engine through the tunnel and whistled at the Johnnies. They 
rushed out on the track surprised at the audacity of the Yanks. 
As soon as a goodly number were together one of our batteries 
opened on them. 

The advance of the 23d Corps on the east of the mountain, 
and their repulse, together with the constant picking away of 
Harker's and Willich's brigades on the west side, made the casual- 
ties rather large that day. The large detached rocks on the moun- 
tain side — each in itself a strong fort for whoever might reach it 
— made every inch of ground our men advanced cost them dear. 

The 10th was not an important day at this point, the bulk of 
our army having moved toward Snake Creek Gap. A few shells 
were fired from each side. At 4:30 P. M. the left section, under 
Lieut. Fluskey, took position in a field about half a mile south. 
They fired twenty-four rounds at a rebel battery on the mountain 
side, but could do little good. The sharpshooters turned their 
attention to them as soon as they unlimbered, and they soon sent 
their bullets whizzing by our men's ears. Discovering they could 
be of no service there, they were ordered back. 

The 11th was a quiet day. The hard rain of the night before 
seemed to have driven away all desire for righting. The new 
caisson returned. In our camp "Teddy"' and ''Growler" amused 
themselves for a few minutes in a scrap. 

We were astir by 3 A. M., of the 12th, and soon moved to the 
gap at the north end of Rocky Face. Here the right section 
joined us from the mountain. The 23d Corps withdrew to go to 
the right, and a portion of the 1th took their position. It was 
expected that the rebels, as soon as they became aware of the with- 
drawal of the 23d Corps, would advance, and preparations were 
made 1 to receive them. The right section was put in position in the 
gap, but it was not so easy to dispose of the rest of the Battery. 
Capt. Aylshire would place us where he thought best, and almost 
immediately another staff officer would order us away. The 
infantry were hard at work building breastworks across the valley. 
Old logs were carried together and piled one upon another. Dead 



ATLANTA CAMPAIGN. 171 

trees were felled as if by magic; a few men would walk u ; > to mie, 
swing it to and I'm. and over it would tip. Spado, shovels, axes, 
bayonets, everything was used in this work. To the left was a 
thick clump of trees which was thought might give the enemy 
protection. They were sp lily felled. Our left and center sec- 
tions were placed so as to bear on this point. Gen. Newton rode 
by, swinging his legs as if trying to go faster than his horse would 
walk, and, seeing our guns, very crossly said to Aylshire. "Gel 
this battery out of here. What are you doing with it in such a 
position?" At last we were given a position on the slope of the 
hill on thf cast of the valley, and waited patiently for the enemy 
to advance, but they only came far enough to inert our men near 
the gap and exchange a few rounds. 

At 6:30 next morning we received orders to march, and the 
word that tin- rebels had evacuated their almost impregnable posi- 
tion tor one not near so strong! This was indeed cheering new-: 
hut it was a wonder to us why they had retreated alter so short an 
attempt to hold the place. A prisoner captured some time after 
explained it as follows: "On the morning of the L2th, as Johns- 
ton was viewing the mountain from his headquarters with his field- 
glass, he saw a man with pompous mien gesticulating as if speak- 
ing. Examining closely, he found it to he Sherman, and with his 
acute ear. soon heard him command, " Attention Creation/ By 
nation's right wheel!" Johnston immediately decided that it 
would be useless to attempt to check Sherman if he had the whole 
of creation under his command, and was making a wheel by 
nations through Snake ('reek (Jap. and so he ordered his retreat. 
which began 'that day; "and," added the man, "when I saw your 
army march by to-day, I thought Johnston had better continue 
retreating." We ourselves were quite surprised a1 the number of 
Yanks that passed as while we were waiting for Hooker'- men to 
take t he advance. 

While marching through Dalton many of its inhabitants 
cheered us as though they were really glad of our being there. A 

re desolate place we had never marched through! The rebels 

on leaving had taken everything they could earn away. \ great 
quantity of tobacco and several bushels of peanut- "guba-nuts, 
as the southerners call them had escaped their search, but the 
prying eyes of the blue backs soon discovered them, and we sup- 
plied ourselves with the two great luxuries in sufficient quantities 



172 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

to last us several days. Each caisson in tlie Battery had its bag of 
peanuts, and each tobacco chewer his pockets full of the precious 
weed. 

In passing we were shown the spot where twelve rebel deserters 
were murdered, according to their own papers, a day or two before. 
We camped at night eight miles south of Dalton. 

On the 14th all were astir at half past three, but did not 
march till eight o'clock. At ten the column halted, as our skir- 
mishers had been checked by the enemy. After a few minutes' 
sharp tiring, the enemy fell back, and we moved on a short distance 
further for the rebels had made another stand. Our brigade rested 
under the trees, many making coffee. There was a lull in the 
skirmishing ahead. An officer rode through the brigade and told 
us to fall in. We did so, and received Stanton's announcement 
that Hancock had captured a whole division and thirty guns from 
Longstreet! Cheer upon cheer echoed and re-echoed through the 
woods, carrying the sound of our rejoicings to the retreating foe. 
The bands played the national airs. Fatigue was not thought of 
then, and when at noon the troops moved forward, not even a dog- 
robber lagged behind. At one o'clock we were ordered up to the 
front, going on the double quick the most of the way. Upon 
reaching an opening whence we could see the position of affairs, 
we found the rebels were behind strong works. Their guns were 
shelling our forces quite lively. The 4th Corps was to the left of 
us. To get us there, Capt. Aylshire took us about a quarter of a 
mile- to the rear and left us. Several random shells struck near us 
— even among our guns. At 2:40 P. M. the 4th Corps moved to 
the charge. On they went up to the very moats of the enemy's works, 
but so galling was the fire they were forced to fall back, leav- 
ing their dead and wounded where they had fallen. During the 
charge we moved up to our main line. Cols. Harker and Opdycke, 
who had received wounds in the charge, came back to where we lay, 
had their wounds dressed, resumed the saddle and rode to the front. 

We now took position on a small hill near by. The left sec- 
tion was soon taken to a more advanced position. In attempting 
to reach it, gun 6 tipped over, wounding one man and two horses, 
and had to return. Gun 5 took position and did such execution as 
to call forth the praise of Gens. Thomas and Hooker, who were 
near. Guns 1 and 2 fired some from their position. Gun 5 
returned at dusk. 



ATLANTA CAMPAIGN. L73 

Once it was reported thai our forces were Palling back at 
the time they retreated to the woods causing an inn liate retro- 
grade on the part of the cooks and dog-robbers, who a few hours 
before were so brave. One man came limping along, groaning at 
every step. As soon as he heard the word, '"They're falling back," 
he sprang toward the rear with great agility, being cheered as 
long as he could be seen by the men who had seen him limping 
but an instant before. 

On Sunday, the L5th, the ball opened at about half past five 
in the morning. Battery A. 1st Ohio, and our Battery had been 
given position early in the morning on the front line of the works 
at the edge of the woods, and on top of a high ridge. The rebel 
works were about eight hundred yards distant, and on thenexthill 
to the southeast of us. The intervening space was a sort of valley, 
being in places a hundredand fift\ feet below our position. It was 
an open field, and at every little distance could he seen the body of 
sonic soldier who had attempted to cross the field toward our men. 
who were lying at the foot of the hill, and almost under the 
muzzle of the rebel guns, yet sheltered from all danger by the hill- 
side. During the night before, the rebels had set tire to the dry 
leaves outside their works. The tire ran through the brush, burn- 
ing the bodies of our men, who had fallen there the day before, 
and which we had been unable to carry off. There were also sev- 
eral of our severely wounded burned to death. As an explanation 
of this inhuman act. the rebels said the fire had accidentally caught 
from the fire of their guns. 

A.t eight o'clock our two batteries were ordered to open and 
lire us rapidly as possible. Grun 6 soon got a shell fast in the 
muzzle, and had to lie idle till an instrument could he made at the 
forge to drive it down. Our other nuns were soon so hot from 
the rapid firing that premature discharges id' the guns were caused. 
In Battery A one man lost his right forearm and part of his left 
hand, and another lost his right hand, and Stillwell, a man detailed 
from the 3d Wisconsin Battery, and acting on gun 5, of our Bat- 
tery, lost his left thumb \>\ premature discharges of the guns. 

There was a rebel battery a little to the right of our front, at 
which we principally directed our lire. They soon removed all hut 
one gun which they left with \\< muzzle protruding over their 
work-. At "J I'. M. we began firing twelve guns at once. Our 
Battery tired 361 rounds during the day. 



174 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

At eleven o'clock that night the enemy made a great stir as if 
attempting to break through. It was expected they would make 
the trial, and all were prepared for it. Several volleys of musketry 
were fired, hut our artillery beginning to play freely on them, they 
dried up. It was discovered early the next morning that all this 
on the part of the rebels was only a feint, for we received shortly 
after daylight the cheering word. u The rebels have gone! 11 

It took but a short time for us to be ready for the pursuit, as 
it was desired to attack them before they should reach another 
fortified position. By seven o'clock all were on the move. In 
passing over the battle field, we took a hasty survey of the execu- 
tion done, as our road led by the fort, where the rebel battery was 
we. had so mercilessly shelled. The hill on which the rebel works 
were was nearly as steep on the rear side as in the front. Imme- 
diately in the rear of where our target stood, were six dead horses, 
all horribly mangled by shells. Where the guns stood were pieces 
of the carriages, a couple of disabled wheels and other signs of 
damage done. Pools of blood were found in many places. In the 
hollow at the foot of the hill could be seen many traces of good 
execution. Haversacks, canteens, cartridge boxes and straps torn 
up or cut in two and covered with blood. As an example of how many 
shells traveled the same track, a tree, about two feet in diameter at 
the butt, standing on ground occupied by the rebel battery, bore 
the marks of twelve shells! We found a number of the rebel dead, 
but the most of them had either been carried to the rear for burial, 
or were carried out in the woods, being barely covered with dirt 
and leaves. There were also quite a number of our own men who 
had been so daring as to venture through an opening there was 
inside the rebel lines. This act cost them their lives, and we found 
their bodies almost nude — the rebels having stripped them of every- 
thing but their shirts and drawers. 

We reached Resaca at ten o'clock. There was found a large 
quantity of corn meal, many sacks of beans and shelled corn. At 
the depot there were a number of old cannon, battery wagons and 
forges. One would judge from their make that they had been 
used either during or before the Revolution. They had also left 
two good cannon in the fort near the bridge. The few houses of 
the town were well perforated with shell holes. Our troops, which 
had been within musket shot of the place all the day before, had 
not spared anything that would be likely to shelter a rebel. 



\ I I. \ \ I \ I AMI'AltiN. 1 75 

Though our army had been so near, this did not prevent the rebels 
from burning the railroad bridge. 

Before we started from there, the pioneers were hard at work. 
Trees were Belled, hauled to the bridge, sawed the proper lengths, 
mortised, and tenoned as if by magic. The bridge was completed 
and the cars up with us by noon of the 20th! So closely were the 
cars kept up with the army during the whole campaign that 
scarcely could we settle down for the night, after having driven 
the rebels several miles during the day, before the whistle of the 
engine was heard close upon our heels. And this <la\ at Resaca, 
just as our last caisson crossed the rickety bridge the rebels hail 
left unburned, the train came whistling around the curve about 
half a milr off! 

Our advance kept close at the heels of the retreating foe. 

There was skirmishing all the after with the rebel rear guard. 

At 5 P. M. the column halted while the skirmishers dislodged 
some rebels who were making a stand among the trees ahead. 
Near by us was a church and school house, and by their side was 

a large shed SOme eighty feet long. These had Keen used as a 

hospital but a few minutes before our arrival. Legs, arms, large 
pieces of flesh, great pools of fresh blood, all told plainly what our 
muskets and cannon were doing for the confederacy. Citizens 
i. e.. women told us the enemy had sent off several train loads of 
dead and wounded during the previous night and this day. 

We camped at 7 I'. .M.. five miles from Resaca. The right 
section had been kept up with the skirmish line all the afternoon, 
to he in readiness should there he anything to do. 

On the L7th we were off at 5:30 A. M. At seven we passed 
through Calhoun, a lovely village, and at nine o'clock took posi- 
tion on a hill, in a grave-yard, near John's ('reek. The enemy had 
thrown up a feeble line of works a short distance ahead, and was 
evidently making a stand; hut it was only intended to protect the 
retreat of his wagon trains. A.t eleven o'clock the Batter} again 

took position near the house of Richard Peters, hut the enemy 

fell Lack on being pressed by our infantry. The plantation on 

which we had taken position reminded us of so well-furnished 

northern farm. It was known a- the Atlanta Plantation, and 
everything about it was in better condition than we had observed 
in an\ other farm in the confederacy 



176 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

At the next halt gun 5 put a shell through a house behind which 
there were several rebels who were trying to pick us off. Upon 
reaching the house we found two women in it. One of them had 
become a mother about an hour before. The shell that went 
through the house passed diagonally over the bed on which the 
mother and child lay. and only about three feet above them ! We 
pronounced the child a young soldier, and laughed considerably at 
the gunner over his day's work, little imagining that he had as yet 
scarcely begun it. About a mile further on was Oostanaula Creek. 
We reached it at four o'clock, and found the enemy entrenched 
about half a mile south of it. For a little more than a quarter of 
a mile before reaching the creek, the road was perfectly straight 
and level, and ran north and south. As was usual, when the 
column halted all parts closed up, and there was thus a compact 
mass of guns and caissons and infantry standing in the road. The 
enemy had a battery planted in such a position as to rake the 
straight portion of the road its entire length. As soon as the 
enemy thought we were in proper position they opened on us. but 
all save one of their shells struck short, and that one passed by a 
few feet above the drivers 1 heads, traversed the whole length of 
the road, and struck and exploded just beyond the curve. It 
providentially was so high that it did no damage; but it caused 
some hasty dismounting. 

As soon as it could be done our left section was put in posi- 
tion in the road near the creek, and close by a cotton-gin, where 
it immediately opened on the rebel battery, which immediately 
withdrew its fire from the column in the road and directed it to 
our section. For many minutes it was doubtful which side would 
have to acknowledge itself silenced; but we finally kept good our 
prestige, and that too, without the loss of a man, though many of 
the infantry had been killed or wounded around us. Gens. Sherman 
and Thomas and staffs had a narrow escape as they rode by the 
section. A shell exploded in their midst, wounding one of their 
aids seriously. 

A strong skirmish line of the 1st Brigade was now sent for- 
ward into the woods lately occupied by the rebel battery. 

The 6th Ohio Battery now took position near us, and, not 
being able to distinguish friend from foe at that distance, asked 
whose men those were, pointing to our skirmishers. They were 
told by an officer that they were rebels and to open fire on them 



ATLANTA CAMPAIGN. 177 

immediately. They did so. and did not discover their error until 
they had killed nearly a dozen of our own men. ( )f course the men 
of this battery were uol responsible for this, as thej were but obey- 
ing orders, bul when the infantrj demanded what battery it was 
that shelled them, the 6th charged it to us. Now. though all 
acknowledged how gallantlj we had earlier in the day silenced the 
rebel battery which was killing off so many of our men, yet they 
would have condemned us on this accusation, had we uol found 
positive proof of our innocence. Upon gaining possession of the 
battle field, pieces of twelve-pound spherical shells and several 
unexploded shells of the same caliber were found, hut do three- 
inch rifle shells nor any fragments of such. As our guns were 
three-inch rifles, while those of the other battery were Napoleons, 
we were, as a matter of course, exonerated from all blame, and 
stood even higher with our di\ ision comrades than before. 

Alter the battery in our immediate front was silenced gun 5 
was taken about three-quarters of a mile to the right,where it 
could get an enfilading fire on the rebel works. Our other guns 
were in position on the left. The left section disposed of 128 
rounds. By six o'clock all was quiet. The northern press, in 
speaking of this little action, gave great praise to Battery M. 1st 
Indiana. There vvas m> such battery, as the Indiana batteries were 
all numbered, not lettered. 

On the 18th we moved out at seven o'clock, the enemy having 
disappeared early. As we had to wait some time near the enemy's 
position, for other troops to get in motion, we tools a general sur- 
vey of the field, the whole-of which looked as though a drove of 
prairie rooters had been there, it was so completely rooted up by 

shells. A short distance be} I the rebel works was a brickhouse 

of octagonal plan. To this house our section had directed its fire after 
having silenced the rebel battery, for we knew well that the rebels 
alwayssought such place-. This house was so well perforated with 
shell boles as to make it quite airy during the approaching hot 
weather had it been allowed to stand, but the infantry had suf- 
fered so much by the rebels firing from the windows that it was 
soon given to the flames. 

A.dairsville was three miles further south. We reached it at 
9 A. M.. and lay there till 3 P. M.. waiting for the Arm\ <>\' the 
Tennessee, which was coming in from the west, to pass. We then 
moved six miles further and camped. 



178 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

Just as the Battery was ready to start, Harding, of gun 1, shot 
himself through the left arm with his revolver. He was cleaning 
it when it was accidentally discharged. He was sent to the hospital. 

We reached Kingston at 11:30, and, after lying there about an 
hour, moved about a mile east and halted till five. Skirmishing- 
was going on lively a short distance ahead, and artillery was being 
brought into use on both sides. Some of the rebel shell passed by 
us; others struck near. We expected to be ordered to the front, 
but " Long Range" was not to be found. At last, at five o'clock, 
after the enemy had fallen back, he rode up in hot haste and 
wanted us to hurry to the front. We went on the gallop wherever 
the roads would permit. He took us in so many different direc- 
tions that when we had time to look and think, we could not tell 
in what direction we lay from Kingston or any other place. We 
had traveled through woods, over roads, through fields, until dark 
found us in a dense wood, and within a few yards of the rebel 
pickets. Upon discovering where he had taken us, he went back 
to find where our division was, and was gone nearly an hour, leav- 
ing us where we had to make as little noise as possible to avoid 
letting the enemy know what an easy prey we would then have 
been. After a long time he returned telling us we must retrace 
our steps. This was no easy task, and it was with great difficulty 
we headed our teams toward the rear, having to unlimber some of 
the pieces and turn them by hand. We went back some distance 
and camped at 9:20 P. M., not with our division, not knowing 
where to find it, but we were with the cavalry. It was ten o'clock 
next day before we found our division, and then we moved to it, about 
a mile to the rear, and near a large mill on Two Run Creek. At 
noon the cars arrived. 

Preparations now began for another forward move. Packing 
the chests, drawing rations and clothing, washing and fixing every- 
thing that might be out of order with guns, caissons or harness, 
occupied most of our time for the next day or two. We could 
hear musketry or cannonading far ahead every day. 

On the 23d our already distasteful instructions regarding bag- 
gage were made worse by orders being issued to all batteries to still 
further cut down their baggage; this too just after drawing more 
clothing. We were allowed one knapsack for four men to be carried 
in the wagon, and one for five men to be strapped on the caisson. 
Horses were allowed only four pounds of shelled corn each per day. 



ATLANTA CAMPAIGN. L79 

That afternoon two men, named Hulse and Barclay, joined as. 
They had enlisted in Colvin's battery, bul had Lost the mud. and it 
was almosl impossible to return qow. 

In the 1 >i Brigade of cur division, Col. Frank Sherman was 
removed from the command, and was made one of Gren. Howard's 
staff. He was succeeded by Gen. Kimball, who had just arrived 
from the west. 



CHAPTER XXI. 



"Forward 11 was the word for the 23d of May. The 14th 
Corps moved out early. The 4th Corps started at noon, but soon 
halted till 2 P. M., to allow other troops to pass. As our 
wagon train moved up and parked near us, we had the first 
sight of the badge that had been adopted for our corps. It was 
described in the order for its adoption as follows: It shall be an 
equilateral triangle, apex upward. For the 1st Division, a red 
triangle, for the 2d Division, white, and for the 3d Division, blue. 
Brigades are to have the figure representing their number inscribed 
in it. Thus one could tell at a glance to what company, regiment, 
brigade, division and corps a man belonged, if he wore his badge, 
as he usually had the letter of his company, the State to which he 
belonged, and the number of his regiment on his cap. Artillery 
belonged simply to a division, and wore its and the battery's badge. 
These badges were a great assistance to couriers, and to staff and 
general officers, for they could easily find a command themselves 
without asking innumerable questions as they would otherwise 
have had to do. The order of color for divisions was the same 
throughout the army, but the badges were quite different. That 
of the 4th Corps was an equilateral triangle; of the 14th, an acorn; 
of the 20th, a five-pointed star; of the 23d, a Norman shield; of 
the 15th, a cartridge box with the words "40 rounds 11 on it, and 
of the 17th, an Indian arrow. 

About four o'clock we passed the ruins of an extensive rebel 
salt petre leach and works, and reached the Etowah, or High Tower 
River at dusk. Here were some rebel works thrown up to 
protect the covered bridge which they had neglected to burn. We 
had to wait for the 20th Corps to cross, so there was ample time 
to make our coffee and take a short nap, as it was ten o'clock 
before the road was clear for us to move on. We then went about 
four miles further, passing more ruins of salt petre works, and 
camped at midnight nine miles from our late camp. 



\TI.\NT\ CAMPAIGN 1M 

Before resuming the march next morning (the 24th) orders 
were received to make three small rations last four days. 

At Enhaulee Creek we found a Large crib full of torn, and 
filled all the bags we had. which well loaded the caissons. We 
were determined to keep our horses well fed, even it' we had to suf- 
fer, and often, on the campaign, our horses pulled the Batter} up 
hills without even halting to rest, when other batteries were unable 
to ascend without doubling. 

The 20th Corps passed through Stylesboro, while we bore off 
to the right and soon found ourselves in a dense pine forest. We 
traveled for four hours and a half in this, without finding a drop 
of water to slake our thirst, when suddenly, on descending a steep 
hill, we were on the bank of a clear, swift-flowing stream Raccoon 
Creek. Here was the 20th Corps wagon train, the corps having 
taken a short cut and reached here some time before. It was hut 
a few minutes before the creek was tilled with men bathing and 
officers' horses being washed by dog-robbers for a quarter of a 
mile above and below the road. Gen. Wagner rode out into the 
creek and stopped beside a man who was washing his feet. Hand- 
ing the man his tin cup. he said, " Mister, will you please hand up 
some water?" The man hesitated, stammered something about its 
not being very clean on account of the numher washing in it. 
"Oh. never mind that. I've drank worse." and lie quaffed down two 
cupfuls. 

A detail was now sent from the Battery to bridge the creek, 
and at 6:30 we crossed and camped near by. At 10 I'. ,M . Lieut. 
Burton, with another detail, started out to cut a road up the high 
hill to our right, and along its top, till they should come to 

where the trees st 1 far enough apart to admit our pa>-ine-. or 

until they should strike a road. A few minutes after they started 
it began to rain almost in torrents, and all who were not under 
cover were soon drenched to the skin. Our Purp tents were of 
little use. They had long been nearlj discarded in our company, 
and carriage tarpaulins used in their stead. 

On the 25th the Battery moved at 6:40. The hills were hard 
to ascend on account of the recent rain. The infantry had gone 
on the uight before, and it was eight o'clock before we caught up 
with them. Near Burnt Hickory we bore to the wot. ascending 

and descending steep hills all the form i. Mica wasso abundant 

about here that the road looked as though paved with silver. 



182 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

At four o'clock we came to an old rebel's, from whose place 
could be seen the smoke from the battle going on, near Dallas, 
about three miles to the southeast. We moved about a mile to the 
northeast and parked in a wheat field within half a mile of the 
bridge over Pumpkin Vine Creek, which Hooker's corps was then 
crossing. As the general, who was riding in advance, reached the 
bridge he found two women there extinguishing the fire with 
which the rebels had attempted to destroy it. A few minutes later 
we heard a volley of musketry, proving that the rebels were near. 
Shortly after the volley cannonading began, and the battle waged 
warm till darkness put an end to it. Ambulance after ambulance 
full of wounded came back to a log house near where we lay, 
which was being used as an amputating hospital. We saw more 
arms and legs taken off there than at any other time or place in 
the army. Hooker had been led into an ambuscade, and was him- 
self nearly captured. Determined not to retreat, he ordered up 
more men. His skirmishers fell back without giving warning, and 
hence the main line in its advance upon the enemy received a mur- 
derous fire at only a few yards range. The underbrush was so 
thick they could see but a few feet ahead. 

Shortly after Hooker became engaged we could hear cannon- 
ading farther to the east, and concluded that McPherson must be 
up with them on that side, and assumed we should be able to 
drive them very easily from these hills. 

At 7 P. M., of the 26th, we crossed the creek and moved up 
to our lines about two miles east of the bridge. It was quite dark 
when we reached our destination among stumps, and the bullets 
were coming quite thick, causing us to lie low. 

The next morning cannonading began at seven, and was soon 
quite hot. Gen. Newton, commanding the division, came along, 
and seeing we were not yet harnessed up, severely censured Capt. 
Aylshire for neglecting to have us ready to move. "Long Range" 
then took us toward the east and tried to find a position for us, but 
failing to discover one, took us to a spot where he said we could 
camp. 

At noon Battery A and our left section took position and 
opened fire. At five the right section relieved Battery A, and at 
six the left section returned to camp. The two sections fired 229 
rounds during the afternoon. 



ATLANTA CAMPAIGN. 183 

On the 28th reveille was sounded at 2:30, as then' was con- 
siderable cannonading. At five it was quite hard from both sides. 
At eleven the enemy tried a charge in our immediate front, and 
was speedily repulsed. Soon after a ball came into tamp and 
killed the captain's favorite horse. Only a lew minutes before he 
had refused to let his groom ride him to the front with orders for 
the right section, because he was afraid be would be shot. At 
eleven o'clock thai night the rebels charged again, and were again 
sent back to their works with great loss. 

The 29th passed rather quietly, there being only a few cannon 
fired by either side. The infantry had settled down to their 
"pecking," not a man on either side daring to show himself with- 
out receiving a salute of a dozen bullets. At eleven o'clock that 
night the enemy charged again. This time our artillery played 
freely on them. At our caissons they harnessed up, so as to be 
ready in case they should be called upon. At two, and again at 
four o'clock, next morning, the enemy began charges again, hut 
advanced only a few yards before retiring. 

Ahout a mile to our left Bridges' battery had heen hotly 
shelled on the '1 { M\\ by a rebel battery in its front. It replied for 
some time hut had to cease tiring and the men found safety from 
the rebel shells where best they could. During the 30th it was 
silent, and at six o'clock in the afternoon our left and center sec- 
tions were sent to relieve it. Bridges withdrew, and under cover 
of darkness we put our guns into the works in which Bridges had 

heen silenced. 

Our caissons were left in a ravine a few rods to the rear of 
our position, and our gun horses were kept in a deep hollow just 
hack of the guns. 

At daylight, on the :51st. we took a survey of our position. 
The first head that looked out through an embrasure demonstrated 
that we were closely watched ami that the watch was at im great 
distance, for a bullel whizzed by just high enough to (dear the 
works. However, we saw a fort about a thousand yards distant in 
front of us. said fort being partly bomb proof and presenting eighl 
embrasures. There was a wheat Held between us and our antag- 
onist. The many bullets that struck the bank, limbers or passed 
by, told us our gun- were standing too high to he available. To 
raise the works when there were so many sharpshooters so ueau us 
was impossible, SO, a- thai could not he done, we must do the ne\t 



184 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

best — lower our guns. We got them down a little by eleven 
o'clock, when the enemy opened on us. We replied, but finding 
'twere best for us to say as little as possible until better prepared, 
we gradually ceased tiring, and went to digging as rapidly as pos- 
sible. We sunk our guns and limbers to the hubs, and dug 
traverses from the guns to the limbers. Then we cut down the 
embrasures so as to fit our present position. But this we had not 
yet completed when, at 3 P. M., the enemy again opened on us, 
doing no material damage. 

Thus ended the month of May. Our army had driven the 
enemy from two strong positions, flanked them out of a third, and 
we thought them nearly surrounded in a fourth. But it appeared 
that others had opinions as well as we. An inquiry made of a 
prisoner, captured that day, showed that an entirely different im- 
pression was prevalent in Johnston's army. He very innocently 
asked: " Well now, just tell me, which are you uns going to do — 
surrender or try to cut your way out?" 

June 1st opened bright and clear. We were all on the qui 
vive, and prepared to return the rebel fire as soon as they should 
speak. Eight o'clock came and not a shot had been fired. We 
thought best to see if we could call forth an answer from the rebels, 
so we opened fire. They must have been equally on the alert, for 
the smoke had not yet risen from before our guns when three of 
their guns had responded. Both sides now worked to their utmost, 
each determined to silence the other if possible. Knowing that one 
well directed shell was worth a dozen sent at random, we took care- 
ful aim at each round. Our foes were equally careful. One of 
their shells exploded in No. 5 embrasure, half closing it. Others 
struck the works, and some just grazed them and exploded between 
the guns and limbers, while many passed by and greatly endan- 
gered our caissons. None of them did any material damage. We 
felt that it was about an even thing, knowing that when the crisis 
comes in the battle that side wins which, at the proper instant, shows 
the greatest pluck. Watching closely to discover the first sign of 
faltering on their part, it came shortly, when pouring in our shell 
with redoubled vigor, the duel soon ceased. They never fired 
another gun from that fort! We continued to shell them for some 
minutes to show them we were not silenced, then paid our attention 
to their sharpshooters, whom we found behind piles of rails, large 
trees and in "gopher holes; 11 some were in a cotton-gin that stood in 



ATLANTA CAMPAIGN. 185 

trout and to one side of their fort. A single shell would scatter 
their rail piles. A.bout bhe second one striking near a gopher 
hole would cause the occupant to skedaddle to the covering of the 
woods or their works. Two or three shells were exploded in the 
gin-house, with what success we know not, save thai there were no 
more bullets sent from it toward us. 

That day Orange V. Mercer, aged eighteen, enlisted at Merri- 
inac, I llinois, for our Battery. 

It rained hard nearly all day of the 2d, with occasional hail. 
At 2 P. M. the Battery moved back to near it- last position, and 
relieved Preston's battery of twenty-pounders, the 5th Indiana 
taking our place. In our new position we were tree from the 
visitation of the " \Yhar-is-\e?'* hut the rebels sen! us man\ of 
their half-starved " cats.*' They came along with their " me-a-ow." 
and would strike the hanks, pass by over the caissons, or -top 
among them in the mud. the sudden halt forcing a thug from 
them. 

That day Carey was placed in the ranks and given a position in 
No. 3 gun detachment. Powers was made blacksmith. 

It rained hard nearly all day of the 3d. Bullets came in more 
numerous titan before. It seemed that the pickets had become fret- 
ful on account of the cold, wet weather, and were venting their 
spite by firing as rapidly as they could. 

Oui- horses were beginning to eat up the carriage wheels when- 
ever they could get to them. We had nothing to ted them, and 
were not allowed by the enemy to take them out to graze, and 
where we lay there were no small bushes we could cut down to 
allow them to eat the leaves. As to ourselves, we had been draw- 
ing about as much as the horses. Of the last corn \\>(\ our horses, 

some of the infantry picked the kernels out of the mud where the 
horses had tramped them nearly out of sight. This day we thought 
we were really going to see better times, as we drew nearly full 

rations of hard tack, hut alas, after having a good, hearty al 

devouring nearly all of them, we were told there had been a mis- 
take made, and instead of their being for three days, t hey must last 
live! 

That day Titus left for hospital with the scurvy. Several id' 

the men had been c plaining lor the last few days of swollen 

limbs, which in places were black and blue and quite hard. Their 
teeth were also getting sore, and hurting them so they could scarcely 



186 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

masticate their food. This last could not be caused by eating hard 
tack, for we had too few. What the disease was no one could tell, 
till many who were with us in upper Tennessee and were affected 
in the same way, said it was scurvy. 

It rained quite hard that night and the 4th. At 2 P. M. the 
battery next on our left opened, and gun 4, of our Battery, think- 
ing the play had again commenced, fired a shot, when it discovered 
its mistake. Toward night Gen. Wagner rode out to the lines in 
front of the right section and told the men to be prepared for the 
rebels as soon as they should rise. He then ordered the buglers to 
blow the stand to arms, and the enemy, thinking our men were 
going to charge, rose to receive them; but they dropped in less time 
than they had risen, as our infantry sent them a w T ell-directed vol- 
ley from their muskets. 

It rained slowly during the night and till eight o'clock on the 
morning of Sunday, the 5th. At six o'clock in the morning our 
pickets were heartily cheering, and looking in that direction, we 
saw them on or running to the rebel works! The rebels had left 
during the night. 

Our first thought was to go to the fort we had silenced and 
discover, if we could, the damage done them. We found blood, 
pieces of exploded shells, parts of broken wheels, scattered around 
through the fort. To the rear of it were several trees, every one 
of which was struck near the butt by a shell, and one or two cut 
entirely off, although they were a foot or more in diameter, and we 
concluded from the signs that one would not feel much like work- 
ing were he placed in as warm a climate as that evidently had been. 

By nine o'clock the Battery was together and ready for the 
" forward 1 ' to be sounded, but no order to move came that day, 
and near night we camped near the fort. 

Sergt. Schnasse, Privates Robert Stewart, Charles Franck and 
Christian Hoffer went to the hospital with scurvy. 

At 1 P. M. fortifying began toward the rear, as it was reported 
Forrest would attempt to capture the wagon train. Several cannon 
were heard to the rear during the afternoon, but no Forrest 
appeared near us, though some of his men did come near enough to 
capture a couple of officers who were bathing in a creek some dis- 
tance from camp. The officers escaped the same day. 

At 8 A. M., on the 6th the Battery moved out. It rained a 
little in the forenoon to keep good our sign. The roads were 



ATLANTA CAMPAIGN. 187 

fearfully cut up by the large wagon trains that had passed over them 
ahead of us. We crossed Little Pumpkin Vine and Altoona Creeks, 
and camped in a dense forest h\ a very small branch called Cucum- 
ber Creek, on whose borders were found inau\ cucumber trees, from 
which it probably derived its name. Before settling down in our 
camp ground, "Long Range 11 had us turn around uo less than t u ice, 
this being the third place he selected for us. We had marched 
n i in- miles that day. At night we drew a little corn for our horses, 
and the next morning we drew not only full rations for them, but 
for ourselves also! And in addition to full rations, got desiccated 
vegetables and sonic soap! 

The trains could be heard running to A.cworth. Our greatest 
cause for concern was to find vegetables or fruits to check, if pos- 
sible, the ravagesof thescurvy. There was very little green stuff to 
be found that was eatable, for the rebels had left uothingof the kind 
behind them. 

It had been rumored (and so fail' was the story that it was gen- 
erally believed) that the ambulance train, which Titus had started 
to the rear in, had been captured by Forrest; but this afternoon, as 
an ambulance train was going past, we saw Titus, nor had be keen 
near Forrest to his knowledge. 

Toward night all thought there was quite a heavy artillery 
battle to the southeast, but after listening intently for some 
minutes, discovered it was the artillery of the heavens: and that 
uight, the next day and the next night we received a shower every 
few minutes. 

At \ A. M. of the 9th "quinine 11 (sick call) was blown at 
infantry headquarters, and our officers mistaking it for the "gen- 
eral," ordered " boots and saddles 11 blown. The Battery was s i 

ready to move, but not receiving orders as to the order oi march, 
t he captain sent to headquarters and there learned that uo "general 11 
had keen sounded that morning, and would not he that day. The 
hoi-.,- were then unharnessed. 

That day orders were read that did not entirely satisfy us. 

hut as they appeared t eet the views of the following persons, 

whose uames were appended to them in the manner given, it was 
thought best not to demur. First came Gen. Thomas, then Gen. 
Bran nan, his chief of artillery, next came Capt. Bridges, chiet ><i 
artillery of the 4th Corps, ('apt. AyMiiiv. chief of artillery of the 
:lt\ Division, and finally Capt. Spencer, commander Battery M. Lst 



188 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

Illinois Artillery. The orders were to the effect that any battery 
of the Army of the Cumberland found with even a canteen on gun 
or caisson while on the march, or ahorse tied near enough to a car- 
riage to eat the spokes of the wheels or the poles of the carriages 
while in camp, would be sent to the rear in disgrace ! Not even a 
sack of grain could be put on a caisson for the horses, but we must 
wait till our forage wagons (of which we were to have four) could 
catch up. This would prevent us feeding our horses when we 
should halt for a few minutes, as we often did, and many times our 
animals would have to go without their regular meals, as some- 
times our wagons were not up with us for a day or two. As to our- 
selves, our baggage was to be carried in a wagon allotted for the 
purpose; but as this wagon also hauled all the headquarters' stores, 
there was none too much room for the knapsacks and blankets, 
though several of us had only a poncho. Nearly all tried leaving 
their blankets in the wagon, and the first night on the march had 
the privilege of sleeping on the bare ground, in the heavy dew, that 
is so common in that part of the country. The refractory ones 
carried their blankets, and the second day the whole lot of us were 
contrary. A few days more and our tarpaulins were double their 
usual size when folded up, and soon not a dozen men had blankets 
to carry. The captain would occasionally look at the tarpaulins 
and make some laughing remark about their growing so fast, and 
there the matter would drop. In other batteries we noticed that 
they paid less regard to the order than we, for we did put our knap- 
sacks into the wagon. 



< II \ITEK XXII. 



On tlif loth of June the "general" was again sounded, ami 
thf army was soon in motion. The 1th Corps received orders to 
give thf road to all other troops or trains: consequently, when 
we started at ten o'clock, we had to move very slowly, ami 
made very little progress. It rained ami thundered very hard in 
the afternoon and nearly all night. We camped at 6 P. M.. two 
and a halt' miles from our starting point in the morning. 

A number of rebel hospital tents could he seen on a large hill 
to the east of our camp, ami about three miles distant, proving that 
we should not have far to go before meeting the enemy, and. in 
fact, our advance was even then skirmishing about a mile off. 

Nearly all day of the 11th it seemed to he trying to show how 
hard it could rain, and there were few blue or gray backs in that 
region, when night came, who were not wet to the skin. The day 
was cold and chilly, ami tires were quite as acceptable as though it 
was a March day. 

At 1 1 A. M. the Battery moved about three-fourths of a mile 
tti the east. Here we lay till 6 I'. ML, being kept lively by the shells 
that were every few minutes passing through the tree-tops above 
our heads, or burying themselves in the ground near ns. each one 
seeming to see how close it could come and do no damage, some- 
thing like the Indian practice of throwing tomahawks at a victim 
as he stands hound to a tree. 

At six o'clock, by doubling to gel up a steep hill, we moved 
about a mile north. The left and center sections took position 
neai- an old house at the edge of a tield. and facing Tine Mountain. 
The right section ami caissons camped about a quarter of a mile 
back in the woods. Before dark the two sections at the front had 
fired forty-four rounds at the enemy on the mountain. 



190 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

It rained all that night, the day and night of the 12th, and 
till nearly night of the 13th. There was very little firing from 
either side. We conld hear the rebels' and our trains — theirs as 
they came past Kennesaw — ours as they approached Big Shanty. 

At 11:30 A. M., on the 14th, we harnessed up, as the infantry 
were to charge in our front and we might have to move. At twelve 
o'clock several batteries, including ours, opened on the mountain 
and on the woods at the foot and front of the mountain. The 
grounds were shelled thoroughly that, when the infantry should 
advance, they would meet with no great force of the enemy. 
During the cannonading the rebel Lieutenant General Polk was 
killed, a ten-pounder shell passing through his body and burying 
itself in the ground some distance further on. Prisoners who were 
captured that afternoon said he was killed in the manner before 
stated and that the battery which fired the shell stood in the field 
near the old house, clearly describing our position. We know that 
there was no battery within a quarter of a mile on either side of 
us, and we were so near the house as to make use of it for quarters. 

When the infantry charged — three lines deep — they met with 
but slight opposition. They drove the enemy from the mountain 
and about half a mile beyond. Great was the cheering as the news 
spread that Polk was killed. At half past five we moved nearly 
two miles further east and camped. 

We hitched up on the morning of the 15th, but soon 
unhitched and unharnessed. At 1 P. M. we again hitched up and 
moved forward about one and a quarter miles and halted till 8 P. 
M., when we advanced about one and a half miles and took posi- 
tion, working all night throwing up works. At nine o'clock, on 
the 16th, all the batteries on our part of the line opened, making 
such a terrific noise that it sounded more like the consolidation of 
many thunder storms than the artillery of man. Our Battery 
fired thirty-six rounds. It was always our motto, when allowed 
to fire as we chose, to use our ammunition sparingly, but to make 
each shot tell — always selecting an object before sighting a gun. 
Closely adhering to this, Battery M was never caught without 
ammunition from having wasted it in mere noise. 

During the night the enemy left their strong works in our 
front and swung around so as to face to the west instead of the 
north. At 8:30, next morning, we advanced and halted at a very 
strong fort, about a mile from where we had lain. In front of this 



ATLANTA CAMPAIGN. 191 

tort were to be seen manj large trees cut, rent and splintered from 
the effects of our fire. A prisoner told us (and pointed out the 
place) that one of our shells had struck one of the large logs, 
(called head logs, laid on top of their works and raised from them 
so as to leave room to fire under) tlnvw it down upon the men 
lying behind the works and killed and wounded fourteen. 

This fort was about equi-distant from Lost and Kennesaw 
Mountains nearly three miles from each. On the former the 
stars and stripes were waving; on the latter the rebels were signal- 
ing, doubtless informing their chief of every movement they saw 
us make. 

At 3 I*. M. our lines again advanced, but had gone only about 
half a mile before finding the enemy behind new works. It seemed 
that as fast as they were driven from one fortified position they 
had another all ready to fall back into. While their soldiers were 
kept constantly at the front with nothing to do but to meet and 
oppose us. their negroes were at the rear, fortifying every place or 
position they might have occasion to use. 

Finding they were going tomakeanotherstand.it was resolved 
they should have another taste of our artillery. Thirty guns were 
put in position at five o'clock, the extreme ones not being over 
eighty rods apart. At six o'clock all opened at once and tired as 
rapidly as they could for nearly an hour. Our Battery fired 207 
rounds, and as each of the others probably fired as many, if not 
more, the enemy must have had to dodge among 1,035 shells 
inside an hour. 

At 11 P.M. the enemy attempted a charge. Our infantry 
immediately formed line, while the artillery hitched up so as to lie 
ready to receive them. A few rounds from our artillery restored 
silence, vet tlie artillery remained prepared for them the rest of the 
uight. Till after midnight it was almost as light as day. hut after 
that hour it suddenly became cloudy, and long before daylight it 
was raining very hard. By eight o'clock every little gully was 
filled with water and the small creeks were overflowing. The rain 
hardly stopped tor an hour till the 23d. 

A.t eight o'clock A. M.. of the 18th, our infantry advanced 
during a very heavy rainstorm. This was unexpected by the 

enemy, ami their first lit f works, with many prisoners, w as easily 

taken. Our artillery had previously shelled their pickets from 
behind their rail piles ( the "gopher holes."' on account of the rain. 



192 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

being untenable) so there was no one to warn the rebels of the 
charge. The prisoners taken were quite the color of the clay in 
which they had lately been lying, and with which their clothes 
were literally covered. Their uniform was naturally so near the 
color of the clay of the country that at any great distance one 
could not tell whether there was a gray back in the country or not, 
so long as he did not fire and thus expose himself by the smoke from 
his gun. In this respect they had a decided advantage over us, 
whose blue contrasted strongly with the color of the landscape. 
Though, as a rule, our blue had turned to clay color also from 
marching, working our guns, and sleeping in the cl&j mud. 

As the prisoners came in by us, the usual salutation. " Hello, 
Johnny, yoa coming in out of the wet?" sounded so appropriate 
this morning that all hands had to laugh — and shiver with the cold 
too. 

At ten o'clock the Battery moved about a mile to the right. 
From here it shelled the woods to the northeast and east. In a 
short time a rebel battery that stood almost at right angles to the 
direction we were firing and on our right flank, opened on us, 
dropping their shells among our guns and limbers; one shell cut a 
sponge staff in two that a member of No. 4 gun was holding, 
and exploded immediately after. One of its pieces struck William 
Hendershot, of the same gun. in the leg, inflicting a severe wound. 
He was taken to a crowded hospital at Nashville, where gangrene 
soon made its appearance among the wounded, many of whom, and 
among them Hendershot, died from its effects. 

As soon as it was discovered where this cross-fire was coming 
from, we turned our attention to it, and soon had the satisfaction 
of silencing it. We then resumed our shelling the woods. 

There was a point about a thousand yards to the northeast of 
us, close up under the guns of a rebel fort, which if attained would 
give us a decided advantage. Three batteries had attempted to 
reach the position but had been driven back, each sustaining con- 
siderable loss. One of the generals proposed to our captain that 
as his Battery had never been silenced, and had never attempted to 
take a position without doing it. he should take us to that point. 
He readily consented and announced that he was going to take one 
section there. For some reason he delayed doing it till after dark, 
and then did not take us there till after midnight. That day we 
had fired 403 rounds. 



\ll \\T\ CAMPAIGN". 193 

Gen. Sherman had formerly been a teacher in the military 
academy ;it Marietta, where he had taught the young idea how to 
shoot at himself. A.s his army was now within a few miles of it, 
he remarked that when leaving there he had no idea he should 
make so great a noise on his return, nor that he should be so 
warmly received. 

The point to which we were taken during the nighi had been 
strongly fortified by the enemy, who still occupied a formidable 
fort about tour hundred yards further back, and from it had shelled 
our batteries which had attempted to reach the works we now held. 

A- soon as we reached the desired point we began reversing 
the works, which was no easy job. To till a moat seven or eight 
feet wide and lour feet deep with earth, thrown over an embank- 
ment nearly live feet high, increasing in height as last as we dug, 
without making the slightest noise lest the enemy should hear us, 
and thus all he lost, was m. easy matter. If we should through 
the night succeed in getting the works strong enough to guard 
against bullets (which was as much as we could expect to 
accomplish in that short time) how would it fare with us when, 
in the morning, the enemy would discover our proximity, and. 
from the fort that looked so frowningly upon us. open with per- 
haps a dozen guns their men refreshed by an undisturbed night's 

rest, whil irs had worked hard nearly the whole night? Asday 

approached some would say. " Boys, this is going to he a hot day for 
us." •" Mattery M. you can now show yourself.*' etc. Day dawned. 
We looked forth to see what the tirst act of the enemy would he 
at discovering as so close under the muzzles of their guns. There 
was not a movement in the tort that we could detect. The silence 
was almost insufferable. Should we send them an iron messenger 
telling them it was time to he astir, and make them do something 
we could see? "I believe they are gone," says one. What in the 

keeps them so quiet?" says another. The infantry are equally 
anxious to know how matters stand behind those works, and one 
daring fellow crawls out over our works and make- bis way running 
stealthily up to theirs. Others follow: they leap over and give a 
shout of joy. The works are deserted, the enemy has gone! No. 
not all. for here and there a sleepy gray back starts to hi- feet, as 
it -cared out id' his senses hy the sudden appearance ami cheering 
of our men. " Hello. Johnnies, what are you doing here? Where 
are the i.'-t id' your brothers?" "We don't know. We went 



]94 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

to sleep and did not know they had gone." By this time the works 
are alive with Yankees. The rebs caught napping are thoroughly 
pumped by each new-comer. Sometimes a dozen questions are 
asked them at once, and as they cannot reply to so many at a time, 
they simply smile and say nothing. A round of fifty parts would 
be a good representation of the catechism put to these " cornfeds." 
One man says, " Good morning, Johnny. Thought you'd come in 
out of the wet, did you? 11 By that time a second has said, " Good 
morning, Johnny, 11 and the first says, "Or did you get sleepy? 11 
when the second says, " Thought you'd come in out of the wet, did 
you? 11 And number three has arrived and said, "Good morning, 
Johnny. 11 By the time number twenty has said " Good morning, 11 
number one has asked how far ahead they probably are by this 
time, and so on, each man asking nearly the same questions his 
predecessor did, till finally number one, having learned about all he 
thinks he shall be able to, becomes considerate for the Johnny, and 
says, " Boys, don't ask him so many questions; he can't answer 
half of them. 11 "You've got through now, have you? 11 replies 
number two, and the conversation works out among the crowd as 
Johnny is left with only one or two questioners, who perhaps are 
his captors, and they say, " Come, we'll be going. 11 They take them 
to headquarters and place them in custody of the proper guards, 
where they are again catechised by dog-robbers and officers. 

After the captured works have been closely examined, all 
return to camp and soon engage in making coffee and in frying 
meat, the frying-pan generally used being a sharp pointed stick, 
on which the meat is stuck and held in the fire till cooked. 

Over the good news of the morning, and for our hard work 
the day before and during the night, Gen. Wagner, always alive to 
attend to our wants when it lay in his power, sent us four gallons 
of commissary this morning. It was taken to Lieut. Fluskey, who, 
supposing it was for his section, had the greater part of it issued 
before he was aware that it was for the whole Battery. As a natural 
result the left section contained some jolly lads that forenoon. 

It was Sunday, and the day began as calm and beautiful as it 
ever did at home, but what mattered it if it was the Sabbath? The 
enemy had fallen back, and we must follow closely, or he would 
have time to fortify his next chosen position unmolested. It will 
be observed that falling back Saturdays and Sundays was becom- 
ing quite fashionable with the enemy. 



ATLANTA CAMPAIGN. L95 

Our Battery moved out about ten o'clock, though the advance 

had started s hours before, and occasional cannonading had 

been heard for some time. While passing through the second line 
of deserted works, we saw where a Johnny had been hit by a shell 
as he lay in an uncovered shanty. His brains were so Ear scattered 
around thai some of them were found on the second shanty on 
each side of the one in which he was killed, a radius of about fif- 
teen feet. A little further on was seen the body of what had oeen 
a fat mule. Its hams had been cutout. Could it be that the rebels 
were SO reduced ill their supplies as to he forced to a repetition id' 

Vicksburg? 

At eleven o'eloek we moved ahoiit one and a half miles to the 
southeast. This brought us within about a mile id' the south end 
>d' Big Kennesaw. the larger of the twins. We took position in a 
field and threw a few shells at the mountain and at the knob at its 
south end. We were ordered to send a salute as far down the val- 
ley toward the south as we could, so with a thirty-five second fuse. 
and an elevation of sixteen degrees, we started off the messengers. 
Where they went or whether they ever stopped, we never learned. 

The rebel skirmishers were in the pine timber about three 
hundred yards in front of our guns, and their bullets occasionally 
zipped close to our heads; but our infantry soon advanced, driving 
them across a small creek further on. The sky had clouded up 
about noon, and now. at two o'clock, it was raining quite hard. It 
continued to rain in fitful showers the rest of the day. and we saw 
no more sunshine till the 23d. At '.'::'(» we closed up with the 
skirmishers, the main line lying a few rods back of our guns. 

McDowell's 2d Pennsylvania Battery had already taken posi- 
tion some farther to the front, and was supported by only about a 
dozen infantry. It shelled the surrounding woods rapidly, and as 
the bullets came thicker, used canister. Wherever a puff of smoke 
could be seen we would send a shell, hut that was slow work 
among a thousand of tl uemy scattered among trees. Mc- 
Dowell had to retreat, having lost over a do/en horses and several 
men in less than ten minutes. Me placed hi- battery in line with 
ours. His were twelve-pounder guns, and of short range, a- were 
also the guns of Ba tt ery A. 1st Ohio, which was also on the line with 
ii- both I latteries being to our left our right lying near the woods 
and unprotected. This weak point the rebels soon detected, and 
crawling a> near us as they could, began using our driver- for 



196 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

targets. One bullet, coming from a distant point in front, struck 
Noyes, ( a detailed man ) a driver belonging to gun 3, in the side. 
He climbed to the ground, and upon examination, found that the 
bullet, after piercing his clothes had not entered his body, when he 
returned and took charge of his team. 

We had been upon the ground but a few minutes before there 
was a large puff of smoke on the knob at the foot of Kennesaw,. 
before mentioned. We had not had time to call attention to it 
before a shell struck in the field about ten rods in front of us, and, 
recochetting, passed over and far to the rear. The men sprang to 
their feet and manned the guns, and had sent a reply by the 
time the second one reached us. A few more came, but none did 
any damage. It required only about five minutes to dry them up. 
The two batteries of twelve-pounders on our left could do no good 
at such long range, so they gave us no assistance. 

We then, as the infantry had driven the enemy back far 
enough that we could freely work our guns, paid attention to 
some sharpshooters on the side of the knob, who had been amus- 
ing themselves by sending their " screaming cats' 1 to us. One 
of these sharpshooters had fired several times from behind a stump. 
A shell exploded just right to lift him up in the air so we could 
see him plainly. Some men approached with a stretcher. A shell 
exploded near them, and we saw no more of the stretcher. After 
silencing a few more muskets, we moved back to where we had 
first taken position and camped. That day we had used 375 rounds. 
Quite a noisy Sunday for us, but we generally did make the most 
noise on that day. 

The infantry threw up light works that afternoon, and 
on the morning of the 20th fatigue parties began to build works 
for our two batteries, a little to the left of where we were when 
attacked by the rebel battery on the knob. At four o'clock P. M. 
they were to have had the works completed, as that was the hour 
for all the batteries to open that afternoon, and oars was to fire 
the signal. Our officers were on the ground long before the time, 
and made such suggestions to the pioneers as they saw, if carried 
out, would improve our position. The brush to some distance in 
front of our position was cleared away, and a small frame house 
that stood directly in front, so as to obscure the view, was burned. 
We took the left of the line, fronting the knob, while Battery A 
took the right, which was separated from ours by a road that was 



ATLANTA CAMPAIGN, L97 

left to be used should we have need fco advance. At r.io. though 
the works were not yet so high but that we could easily fire 
over them at any point, we opened on the rebels, or rather on the 
woods in front of us. where we supposed the rebels to be. Still 
holding a grudge against the knob t''>r its having made as work so 
lively tlif day before, we directed our shell to any object on it that 
we could imagine was a rebel. This firing at will was soon 
changed to the Resaca plan of fire by battery and by piece from 
the right, which had given our Battery the name of the " Revolv- 
ing Battery" among the enemy. "Corn ketchup 11 ruled that after- 
noon, and although we had objected mentally, or among ourselves, to 
fighting under him, yet we forgot not our duty when the com- 
mand came, "Fire by battery, ready, fire! 11 Twelve guns belched 
forth simultaneously, and twelve shells reached their destination 
almost at the same instant. After firing a few volleys thus, we 
fired by piece from the right, and our captain^ voice rang out, 
"Attention. By piece from the right, ready, fire!' 1 and our six 
guns, one immediately after the other, were discharged. Some 
special object was always selected,, as before stated, and if we 
could see no enemy, would he practicing at target. 

In our three years' service our target practice was chiefly at 
the enemy, and we did not use L25 rounds in target practice 
proper, although we had forty-four different guns which we had 
occasion to use. the forty-four composed of six distinct kinds less 
than three rounds to a gun and not twenty-one to a kind. 

While firing by piece from the right, we noticed a larger smoke 
on the knoh. than a shell could make, and soon a shell struck in 

front of • position, recochetting over us. This told us we had 

an antagonist, ami immediately the combat began, Battery A join- 
ing us with its shot. There was a lively game of hall for a few 
minutes, when a third party was evidently entering the lists. A 
shell went over and just to the rear of our guns. " What is that ?" 
asked one of the gunners. "Only the 5th Indiana ( which stood to 
our right and rear, some BOO rods distant ) shelling the side of the 
Kennesaw," replied some one. Scarcely were the words uttered 
before a shell coming from the right struck just in the rear of our 
guns, and recochetting, passedon over the infantry. We looked in 
the direction whence it came and discovered a rebel battery to our 
right, just in the act of firing. Our officers called to Battery A to 
attend to the one on the knob should it again open (for we had 



198 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

just silenced it) and we turned our guns to our new foe, throwing 
one gun almost exactly in the rear of the one next to its right. In 
this way we fired several shots till it was seen that we endangered 
our own men, our three left guns having already ceased firing, 
when we exchanged positions with Battery A, which, on account 
of having smooth bore guns, could not reach over half the distance 
this flank fire was from. We now had it from all directions 
where the enemy held the ground. From Kennesaw " drones 11 
came down to see us. On top of the knob they had opened again, 
and also from its side. In our new front a second battery opened; 
this was nearer our lines and behind a heavy strip of woods, so we 
could not tell where the battery was, except as we caught sight of 
the blaze of the guns. We let this last battery fire for some- 
time, thinking it was one of our own, till a shell came from it we 
could not mistake. Col. Harker, coming up just then, reassured us 
they were rebels. Besides these fires, their infantry pickets were 
sending in their bullets thick and close. Shells struck all around 
us; in front, on both sides, to the rear, and among us; one passed 
through one of our horses and exploded inside his mate, tearing 
him in pieces. A piece of shell hit Rundell (detailed from 3d 
Wisconsin) in the hip, wounding him severely. 

Within an hour we had silenced everything except the sharp- 
shooters. We now rested and talked over the work lately engaged 
in. Soon the rebels opened again from the knob and from the right. 
We silenced them in less than ten minutes, but not till they had 
killed some more horses for us. Our loss that day was three men 
wounded, nine horses killed and many others disabled. At 8:30 P. 
M. we were relieved by Battery C, 1st Illinois, and I, 1st Ohio, of the 
14th Corps. We went back to where our caissons lay and camped. 

In this engagement the limbers were in quite as much danger 
while going to and fro between guns and caissons as at the im- 
mediate front; for the shells struck on every side of them, and some 
went as far to the rear as the caissons. It was almost miraculous 
that half or more of our men were not killed, while the infantry, who 
were just to the rear of us, suffered so severely. We fired 375 rounds, 
and must have received fully as many. Barr, of gun 4, met with 
an accident that disabled one of his hands for several weeks. He 
had taken a spoiled cartridge from one of the chests, and as some 
of the powder fell out through a hole in the cartridge and dropped 
into the fire near which he was standing, it ignited and exploded. 



ATLANTA CAMPAIGN L99 

.lust before changing positions with Battery A. gun 6, as well 

as 5 and 4. had to cease firing or kill our own men. 

On the morning of the -1st we drew nine horses, necessitating 
the dismounting of some of Gen. Newton's orderlies ami staff 
officers. 

At six o'clock A. M. we started for the right to relieve a por- 
tion of (ien. Hooker'- corps, which moved still further to the right. 
The road was quite miry, yet we reached our destination, which 
was about two miles from our late camp, with only one or two 
stalls. 

The point to which we had come was where our works 
formed nearly a right angle and about two miles almost due south 
from Kennesaw's kiioh. We rested some time on top of a high 
hill, hut hidden from the enemy by some tall, heavy woods on 
another hill in front id' us. Cannonading was going on quite near 
our previous day's battle ground; it was reported that our relief 
had been silenced and that the enemy was still shelling them. 

The Battery was ordered hack about a quarter of a mile, to 
where there was a sort of fort near where the 20th Corps hospital 
had been, and where part of it still remained. As soon as possible 
which was some little time, for we had to re-cross a miry creek 
that occasioned us some trouble we were in position and firing at 
sound for targets. We could locate, by the smoke above the tree 
tops, one of the rebel forts within about half a mile that was doing 
the damage. To the location of the other fort there were two 
engaged in this attack on our successors in yesterday's position 
we had nothing to guide us except sound. We tired hut few rounds 
before all cannonading ceased around the point to which we had 
sent our shell-. 

We were given the credit of having silenced those two rebel 
batteries. Gen. Howard sent one of his staff with his thanks for 
wdiat we had done. ('apt. Goodspeed, who stood among our guns 

during the firing, said he never saw anything t |ual it as to 

splendid shot-. 

During the time we were directing our shot- to the batteries 
the rebel sharpshooters, hehi ml some rail piles in front of their work-. 

al t eight hundred yards distant, had been seeing how near they 

could send their bullets to us. Now that there was nothing else to 
engage us, we thought to attempt their dislodgement. A half 
dozen shells sent more than as many gray backs on the double 



200 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

quick to their works. We then exploded some shell in a large 
house that stood in the edge of the woods, to the rear of their 
works. This was soon in flames. Then some more in and under a 
cotton-gin that stood to the right of the house, but that failed to 
burn. Then, having orders to continue firing, but with no par- 
ticular object mentioned, we chose points along the works. Our 
shells exploded so well and went so nicely, to the very spot we 
wished, that in a few minutes there was a line of Johnnies running 
as if for life, from behind these works to the woods on their left. 
We dropped a few shells near them, as they ran, to hasten their 
flight. As the rebels left their rail piles for their works, a single 
infantry-man, from the 17th Kentucky, followed and did not stop 
until he was in the moat. Here he lay in safety, others coming 
up one at a time. As soon as the rebels were seen to be breaking 
for the cover of the woods, the whole 17th Kentucky and 15th 
Ohio Regiments, each man armed with a rail besides his musket, 
dashed forward, and were soon in possession of the rebel works, 
which they speedily reversed; and by the next day they were much 
stronger than when the rebels had left them. This rail charge 
was never forgotten in the army. 

Some of the retreating enemy had taken refuge in the cotton- 
gin, but a shell or two soon drove them out. 

At eleven o'clock, the next day, the Battery moved to the 
north end of the captured line, and lay under some large shade 
trees near an old house till late in the afternoon. Battery A was 
in position a little to the left, and did some firing. One signal 
corps had a station just to the rear of where we lay. The rebel 
sharpshooters paid strict attention to them and succeeded in wound- 
ing the principal signal officer. 

At five o'clock a position had been found for us at some dis- 
tance to the right. The captain rode up and said, " Boys, I'm 
going to take you to a warm place, 11 and in a few minutes the Bat- 
tery was in motion. 

The position assigned us was just at the point where the rebels 
had entered the woods, when shelled from behind their works, the 
day before. Our infantry had built works there, as those of the 
rebels did not extend quite to the woods. Just as we moved up to 
the works, an infantry-man was killed by the side of No. 4 gun, 
almost falling over on it. A short time after, another was killed 
near the same place. Bullets came in very fast and close, but if 



ATI.WTA CAMPAIGN. "JOl 

we lay low we should be ou1 of harm's reach. That, however, 
could not be done as embrasures must be made for our guns. 
While working at this Cogswell and Ralph were struck l>\ spent 
balls, which left bruises on them l>ui did not unfit them for duty. 
Xs soon as thf enemy discovered us he opened on us. from a 
batter} they had in our immediate front, but we were so low they 
could not reach us. yet his shells greatly endangered us by cutting 

off limbs of trees over our heads. 

" Whisky" now came along and ordered us to fire percussion 
shell! To have done so would have been simply slaughtering our 

own men. for our skirmish line was in the woods in front of us. 
and if a shell hit a limb or tree, it would explode and kill or greatly 
endanger our men beneath the trees. The order was obeyed so bn- 
that one shell was fired, and it exploded about ten rods in front of 
the gun, though it does not seem to have done any damage. At 
the order "fire," John Scales, who was No. 1 (the one who fires 
the gun) on No. 1 gun, in compliance with orders issued by the 
chief of artillery of the army, that under no circumstances should 
percussion shell be tired in woods over our own men. refused to 
pull the lanyard, although he had fixed the friction primer in the 
gun ami stood with the lanyard almost taut at t he position of " fire." 
Thinking the order had not been heard, or had been misunderstood, 
the order was again given and in no uncertain tones, in the words, 
"Pull, John, pull. Why in h 11 don't you pull?" For sometime 
alter that, when marching by the infantry that were lying within 
hearing distance at the time, (the circumstances were soon known 
throughout the corps ) they would call out to the commander by way 
of recognition, "Pull, John pull. \Yh\ in h 11 don't you pull?" 

That da\ order- were given for all w ho were able to sit up. to re- 
port at the epulis for duty. We were so worn down by overwork- 
ami the * k Georgia gallop" as to have only four or five men to a gun. 

At 1 I'. M.. on the 23d, we began to throw up some light 
works about twenty feet to the rear id' the captured ones, and 
about fifty yards to our left, to protect us should we he replied to 
during the approaching shelling id' tin- enemy, and our position 
had been changed so as to give us a better chance to tire without 
endangering our own troops. At four o'clock Capt. Bridges rode 
up. He had Willis !i and 3 lire a few shots to test the quality of 
our ammunition. It was found to he ver\ poor, not one-quarter 
of the shells exploding. 



202 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

At five o'clock we fired, as a signal, six guns, and scarcely had 
the last one sent forth its missile of death before all the batteries, 
for three miles on each side of us, were firing at will. We con- 
tinued for about fifteen minutes. Immediately on our ceasing 
the infantry in front of the 4th and 14th Corps sounded the charge, 
but as no one moved save a portion of the 100th Illinois, that lay 
in our front, they were of course worsted, as they had no support. 
As Col. Bartleson, commanding the regiment, rode through the 
gap near our guns, he stopped to say a few words to some of our 
men with whom he was acquainted, and then rode forward. 
Just as he reached the cotton-gin a bullet killed him, not five 
minutes after he was talking with us. His loss was deeply felt by 
all who knew him, for he was an officer who had the respect of 
both officers and men. 

This demonstration on our front was a feint to call the atten- 
tion of the enemy to our portion of the lines while Stanley, with 
the 1st Division of our corps, (the 4th) who had been sent some 
distance to the right, could with less risk attempt the capture of a 
strongly fortified hill, which, if in our possession, would put our 
lines in better shape and materially strengthen them. Stanley 
charged and was successful, capturing the hill with very little loss. 
As soon as the enemy could get their forces concentrated, they 
charged resolutely to re-take the hill, but, being twice repulsed 
with much loss, they desisted. 

The mistake made in our front by the 100th Illinois caused us 
to expect a charge by the rebels, so we ran our guns up to the 
main works and cut embrasures as soon as we could. A few rebels 
did appear, but they were prisoners, not wild Johnnies as rebels 
were called when running loose. 

Toward dark a large number of deserters from our army were 
inarched by. They had been released from prison by order of the 
President, on condition that they would return to their commands 
and serve faithfully. Among them was John Hammond, of our 
Battery. 

On the 24th Adler wrote and handed to Gen. Howard a 
memorial, asking that some steps be taken in regard to the immense 
amount of whisky punished by those in authority. The general 
read it and promised his attention. 

This day Aylshire was forever separated from us. He was 
sent to the 20th Corps, and Capt. Goodspeed, of Battery A, 1st 



ATI. ANT \ ( Wll'AKiN. 203 

Ohio, by seniority of rank, became chief of artillery m his stead. 
The day was remarkably quiet, very few shots being fired from 
either side. Our horses bad not been unharnessed for several days, 
and were beginning to look very rough. At dusk Gen. Brannon 
rode up and ordered them unharnessed and left so until further 
orders, or until ueeded. 

That day caissons 1, 2 and '■'< were sent back to lliij; Shanty in 
charge of Sergt. Gillette, to get ammunition, as it could not be 
hauled to as in wagons as fast as needed. The caisson- returned 
on the 26th. The drivers enjoyed all the commissary they wanted 
while gone. 

Pontoon trains now began to arrive, to be in readiness should 
opportunity be ottered to effect a crossing of the Chattahoochee. 
For several days we had very pleasant weather, and though it was 
pas! harvest time, it seemed like spring. We had not seen our bag- 
gage wagon (that was to have been keptclosed up with the Battery ) 
for several days. Imt now being informed thai no more aggressive 
movements on our part would be made for sometime, the wagons 
w.'i-e ordered up. 

On that morning there was a grand artillery duel between 
the batteries of the 1 tth Corps and the rebel guns on top of km- 
aesaw. We could not see where their shells struck, Imt could see 
ours explode so nicely apparently against the very muzzles of 
their guns — that our troops kept up almost a continual cheer. In 
about an hour the rebel u"nns were silenced. Imt in the afternoon 
they opened again. This time it did not require so long to silence 
them. Our batteries continued to shell them and the knob all the 
afternoon, and at five o'clock succeeded in exploding one of their 
caissons on the knob. Then there was shouting and cheering 
alone;- our lines. All that night the pioneers were hard at work 
throwing up a fort around the cotton-gin, for a battery of twenty 
and twenty-four-pounders the 11th Indiana Battery. The 
enemy discovered it ami kept it quite warm for a time. 

Early on the morning of Sunday, the 26th, we began to im- 
prove on our embrasures, for it seemed that there was a storm 
brewing. The u'uns on the right needed more done for them than 
those on the left. SO the men of 5 and 6 assisted 1 and 2. Charles 

Sickles (detailed fr the 3d Wisconsin Battery) of No. 5, had 

just returned to his gun from helping No. 1. when a bullet struck 
him in the back of his head and passed out through hi- forehead. 



204 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

He said, "I'm shot," and fell dead. But a few minutes before,, 
while needlessly exposing himself on the works, he was told he 
would be hit. ''They can't hit me," was his reply. 

At 10:45 A. M. we buried him near where there had been 
about twenty buried before. Lieut. Burton read a chapter from 
the Bible and Sergt. Murphy offered an appropriate prayer. 

That morning Hulse, who as before stated, belonged to 
Colvin's battery, but could not reach it, died in division hospital. 

The same day Dr. Brown, a three-months 1 volunteer, joined 
us as Battery surgeon. During the whole day troops were moving 
to the right. Telegraph lines now ran from Sherman's head- 
quarters to all the department headquarters, thus dispensing with 
much of the signal work, and bringing all parts of the field 
within conversing distance. At dark the 11th Indiana Battery, 
with four twenty-pounder Parrotts and two twenty-four-pounder 
howitzers, moved into the new fort. 

Early on the morning of the 27th our Battery was moved to 
the front of Davis 1 (2d) division, of the 14th Corps. This was 
about a mile and a half to the right of where we had lain. Our 
first thought was that there was to be an attack at this point, but 
when the infantry were maneuvered on top of the hills, in plain 
view of the rebels, instead of in the ravines, where there was 
ample place and where they could not be seen by the enemy until 
at the moment they were ready to advance, we concluded it could 
only be another feint while the attack was to be at some other 
point. While the troops were marching to and fro, forming lines, 
we had a short greeting with our old friends of Chickamauga — 
the 78th Illinois, 121st Ohio, etc. But how little did we think as 
we shook hands with them and wished them godspeed as their 
bugle sounded, that within an hour many of them would be sleep- 
ing the sleep that knows no waking! They were in the front line 
and when we became convinced that it was no feint, we looked to 
see our old firm friends march on to speedy and grand victory. 
Twelve lines, one in rear of the other, had formed, and we 
felt that nothing short of complete success could be the result. 

At 9:40 the lines slowly moved to the attack. Col. Dan 
McCook rode in front of the first line and addressed them : "Boys, 
go just as far as you can and then lie down. I will keep your 
support closed up ready to march by you." The colonel was soon 
carried from the field mortally wounded. The front line steadily 



ATI.WTA CAMPAIGN. 205 

and firmly advanced, bui the others halted. Up within a fev» 
yards of the enemy's works this brave line pushed its way through 
brush and stumps and amid a shower of lead and canister. The 
line halts and throws itself upon the ground, though man} of 
them press on, scale the rebel works and are made prisoners. The 
line lies still, waiting for their support to ]>ass by them, bui it 
conies not. The enemy are slaughtering these brave men as they 
lie upon the ground waiting for their supports. Those who are 
yet untouched look back and discover that no reinforcements are 
coming. The} rise to their feel and break for the rear, uiany 
falling a1 every foot, pierced by the enemy's bullets. As a lew of 
our comrades came scattering back, we could scarcely believe that 
what we beheld was the truth. 

It was thought in a few minutes the charge would he re- 
sumed; hut no. we had been repulsed -signally repulsed, and there 
was no more charging to he done to sacrifice life. Major Y^ager, 
of the 121st Ohio, who, not half an hour before had warmly hade 
us good-bye, was now a corpse within twenty yards of the enemy's 
works surrounded by scores of bodies of those he had led to the 
charge but a few minutes before. There were not many wounded, 
for tin' rebels had their own way and made sure work. There the 
bodies lay for two days before we could bury them, and then they 
were so far decayed that the stench, arising from them, made it 
almosi impossible to approach them. 

The enemy seemed quite as much surprised as we that the 
charge was not resumed, and lay almost quiet till noon, when, dis- 
covering that all signs of a renewal were removed, they opened 
with their artillery. 

But if our immediate front, the 14th Corps, had been defeated, 
we were borne up with the hope that our own 1th Corps had not. 
But listen to the word thai comes from there: "Harker led his 
brigade to the charge. He is killed and bis men are nearly all 
killed or made prisoners." Reports vary: "Harker is mortally 
wounded."' "•Marker is only severely wounded: he will recover. 11 
" Marker is dead. 11 Bui all agree that his brigade is badly cut up. 
"Defeat, -ore defeat, 11 i< the word from all quarters. From our 
division we learn that they charged six companies deep. They 
formed one company in solid square in rear of another, and thus 
they moved to the assault. With little loss the front line reached 
the works and captured them in many places, marching a uumber 



206 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

of prisoners back to our works; but as the rebels who had fled, 
discovered that our front line was not supported, they returned, 
recaptured their works and began to mow our men down by their 
enfilading fires, till the victors became the victims. Our division 
(2d Division 4th Corps) was reported to have lost over 700 killed, 
wounded and prisoners. Among the killed was brave Harker, 
brigade commander of our brigade, the 3d. 

As Col. Harker put on his coat at headquarters, preparatory 
to going to the head of his brigade, he took a package of papers 
from his pocket and handed them to one of his aids saying, '"Send 
those to my mother, for T shall not return," and mounting his 
horse he rode to — death! 

Col. Harker stood high in the love and esteem of all who 
knew him, whether officers or privates, and his loss was deeply felt 
throughout the corps. In him the nation lost one who never 
shrank from his duty to his country, and one who was ever at the 
front in the hour of danger. He met danger without the least 
sign of fear. He had long merited promotion, but as he was not 
one to ask for it, he received it not. Long after his death he was 
regularly promoted, first to brigadier and then to major general. 

But to return to our portion of the field. About 500 yards 
to our right, and on top of a high, bald hill, Battery M, 1st New 
York, and the 13th New York Battery had taken position. Early 
in the morning they opened on the enemy, and received no reply 
till noon, when the rebels opened on them in good earnest. The 
rebel artillery made some good shots though disastrous to us. Both 
sides continued firing till dark. 

At 1 P. M. all began building shades for the horses, for in the 
ravine where we lay the heat of the mid-day sun was almost 
insufferable. Just as the shades were completed, the horses under 
them, and the men trying to catch breath after their hard work, 
orders were given to hitch up. We did so, and lay there till after 
five, when ordered to unhitch and unharness. At six o'clock the 
caissons closed up with us. At eight o'clock, just as all were 
spreading down their blankets for the night, a detail of fifteen 
men was made, to go and cut a road to where our lines were en- 
trenching themselves. This looked as though there might be 
another forward on the morrow, and it was hoped there would be, 
for the men were not satisfied with the disgraceful defeat it had 
been thus far. 



ATLANTA I WIl'AIiiN. 20'} 

A.rmed with axes, pickaxes, and spades, the fifteen had conic 
to an "arms at will," and were awaiting the command "forward," 
when they were told to turn in again, as three hundred men could 
do v.t\ little where it was intended they were to go. 

Thus ended that bloody day. We had attempted to cut the 
rebel army in twain, ami if possible to capture one entire half of 
it. There is no good reason for the failure. We had their works 
in many places and could have- pushed on to complete victory had 
all parts of the machinery worked as desired. General Sherman, 
in his official report, takes all the Maine I'm- the failure upon him- 
self. In this he wrongs an innocent and blameless person. His 
plans were well formed and we think would have met with com- 
plete success, had it not Keen for the presence of so much "fire 
water" among his subordinates. Alas! how many thousands that 
demon whisky killed during the war! 

At five o'clock, on the morning of the 'JStli. our artillery 
opened briskly on the enemy with shell, the rebels saying nothing 
till about eight o'clock, when they responded, firing mostly at 
random. All were quietly enjoying the shades with the horses, 
when along came a shell striking on the hill above us and drop- 
ping, exploded lietweeil the guns and caissons. Kopf. of U'Ull 3, 
saw the shell as it ricochetted from the hill, and. knowing it was 
coming near, fell upon his face, just as the shell struck not three 
feet ahead of him. It (piite covered him with earth and we 
thought he must he killed, hut he arose to his feet, shaking off the 
dust and with his peculiar smile, said. " Gollies. that was close." 
liut a piece of it had made even a closer call to another. Hates. 
of gun 3, (detailed from 3d Wisconsin) was near where it ex- 
ploded; a piece of it tore out a portion of the rim of his hat. and 
just grazed his right ear. Sergts. Tait and Cope, of gun 6, were 
sitting writingunder a small shade they had put up: a shell passed 
through one corner of it and within two \'rc\ of their heads. An- 
other shell exploded in the midst of a game of poker, eagerly 
watched by a crowd id' perhaps a dozen men. The fragments of 
the shell Hew upward with the cards, the stakes and a cloud of 
dust, but no one was hurt. Other shells came close and wounded 
some of the infantry near by. We hitched up. hut at eleven un- 
hitched again. 

\t 2 I'. M.. orders were received to rejoin our division. We 
moved to the left about a mile and selected a camp ground about 



208 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

eighty rods in rear of our lines. Great care was taken in policing 
before putting up our tents, for we expected to remain here several 
days. In fact, there was some cause for believing we should not 
again be sent to the front. We were told that as soon as another 
battery could get here from Nashville, we were to be relieved and 
allowed to go to the rear to recuperate. 

At nine and then again at twelve o'clock, in the night of the 
28th, the rebels tried charging in our front. They kept up con- 
siderable of a rumpus for about half an hour each time, many of 
their bullets reaching our camp. Our artillery quieted them both 
times. 

On the morning of the 29th our horses, that were unfit for a 
fifteen days 1 march, were selected out and turned over. About 
half of them were included among the condemned. These prepa- 
rations for a long march did not promise much for oar relief. 
Besides turning over the worn-out horses we must reduce the 
number of our guns till we should have men enough to man the 
others. Two guns were turned over. Those of the left section 
were chosen. The cannoneers and drivers were distributed among 
the other sections, while the "nons" were thrown out of employ- 
ment, not entirely to their dislike. 

At assembly that night orders were received to put all our 
baggage, except one blanket, one poncho and half a Purp tent into 
the wagon — the exceptions we were to carry. Then immediately 
following the order, were told to go to the quartermaster sergeant's 
tent and put down our names for such clothing as we wanted! 
This we considered a good joke and greeted it with hearty laugh- 
ter — to think us still verdant enough to draw clothing that day, 
after having just been told as plainly as could be wished for, that 
on the next we should have to throw it away. 

During the day there was an armistice at our front for the pur- 
pose of burying the dead of the late failure. Midway between the 
lines were hundreds of blue and gray backs, not all engaged in 
burying the slain, but many conversing foe with foe. Many pounds 
of coffee and tobacco changed hands that day, besides scores of 
newspapers. Some of the Johnnies came inside our works, and 
many of them thought they did not feel like walking to and fro 
between the lines, so they remained with us. An agreement was 
entered into — among the privates — that neither side was to fire 
without warning the other, and for a day or two after scarcely a 



\TI.\NT\ CAMPAIGN. 209 

shot was tired. If. however, the rebs did feel like sending a shot 
over, they would call out, "Look out there, Yank, we're going to 
shoot," and soon there would come the bullet. Our men were 
equally courteous, calling out, " Lie down there, Johnny:" 

During the night Davis 1 men wen' advancing their Lines by 
rolling barrels filled with earth in trout of them. At :'» A. M. 
tin' rebels discovered the trick and immediately tried to drive our 
men back with a shower of bullets. Our artillery responded, and 
in about half an hour all was again quiet. The Battery was 
hitched up and ready to move, not knowing how soon it might he 
called upon. 

At 6 A. M..011 the 30th, we moved to a small fort about a 
quarter of a mile east of our camp. Between this fort and the 
enemy the ground was open, and the Johnnies could he plainly 
seen as they walked ahoiit on their works. The lines were almost 
within conversing distance. Both lines were just at the edge of 
heavy woods, so that a rod or two to the rear of the worksa person 
would be out of sight to those opposite. The men worked a Little 
at the embrasures, dressing them up so as to make them a little 
more serviceable. It was noticed that the Johnnies were making 
embrasures too, but they were allowed to work, as by agreement 
each party was not to he interrupted without first receiving warn- 
ing. All was quiet here, hut just to our right firing was kept up 
without intermission. Two Kentucky regiments there confronted 
each other. They were -worn enemies, and would not even think 
of sparing a shot whenever they saw even a puff of smoke. At 
night even a fire-fl) exposing its light would he tired at. being 
mistaken for a distant flash of an enemy - - gun. There were 
brothers opposing brothers, sons opposing fathers, yet in no part 
of the armies was there as much intense hatred as when "Greek 
met Greek." There was no reconciliation between them. 

On the 30th Lieut. Fluskey started for Chattanooga in charge 
of the cm idem l led artillery of the corps, each battery that was short 

in ii having turned over a section. In the afternoon we had 

our regular biennial muster, and Nathaniel Banks, of gun t. was 

announced corporal id' the same. That month we had marched 

oul\ about thirty-three miles, were engaged twelve days, had been 
under tire twenty day- and tired 1,811 rounds. 

It rained considerable on the 1st, 2d, and 3d of July. At 7 
P. M.. Mi, the 1st, all our artillery opened mi the enemy. Tin- was 



210 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

thought to be ample warning to those in our front, so we took the 
privilege of sending them sixteen rounds, expecting they would 
reply, but they said not a word. Samuel Patton, of gun 2, went 
to the hospital, very sick. 

On the 2d cannonading began at 4:30 A. M. in front of Ken- 
nesaw, and gradually worked around to our position, when we fired 
forty rounds. At dusk the Battery moved back to near the posi- 
tion occupied on the 26th. That day Corp. Brown, of gun 6, left 
for hospital with the scurvy, and never returned to the Battery. 
Robert Stewart, Ezra Winnemore and Geo. Johnson returned from 
hospital. They brought the cheering news that we were being largely 
reinforced by fresh troops. That night preparations were made 
for a warm day on the morrow. We were to take a more advanced 
position and were to engage the rebel fort that stood about 800' 
yards in front of us, which we knew would not spare us when 
they discovered our position. 



CHAPTER Will. 



At sunrise of Sunday, the 3d, it was learned that the enemy 
bad again fallen hack. In half an hour the star spangled banner 
waved from the sum m it of Kennesaw, and troops were immediately 
started in pursuit of the flying foe. At eight o'clock our Battery 
slowly moved out. 

.Marietta was ahoiit three miles ahead. We halted for SOme 

time in a beautiful grove in its southern suburbs. This gave us 
opportunity to take a glance at the large grave-yard, run through 
the town, and to visit the much talked of military academy. In 
the grave-yard werefound many head-hoards marked, " Killed at 

Dalton." " Killed at Resaca, 11 "Killed inaction May . L864," 
etc.. etc. 

We found the town to he a vryy pretty and promising place. 
It contained many large, brick buildings, and bore marks of hav- 
ing done considerable business before the war. It stands on the 
highest ground of any place on that railroad. 

The military academy stands on a high rise of ground about 
eighty roils south of the city. From its roof could he had one of 
the grandest views ever ottered us during the war. Two mile- and 
a half to the northeast stand the twins Kennesaw, the larger rising 
to the height of l.S'JS feet above the level of the sea. To the south 
ami west of them stand Lost and Pine Mountains. Then swing- 
ing around to the left till to about the northeast, there was one 
level green ocean as far as the eye could see. or till the heavens 

appeared to meet its green surface, unbroken, save bj Stone Moun- 
tain, about ten miles nearly east. This rises to the height of 2,200 
feet, and appeal's like a huge sugar loaf rising from the depths of 
the plain. Our eyes had so long been used to seeing no more than 
a stretch of but a mile or two, that we had to shade them when 
extending our gaze over this enchanting scene. In the distant 
northeast could he seen the dim outline- id' spurs of the I Hue Ridge 
Mountains, while some nearer was Hog Mountain, and still nearer 



212 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

Black Jack and several smaller ones. This green ocean that lay 
beneath our feet extending toward the south, and which appeared 
as smooth as a sheet of level ice, we found" to be quite uneven upon 
descending to its depths. Aided by our captain's field-glass, so 
enchanting was the scene from the roof of the academy that when 
the bugle sounded "stand to horse, 1 ' all were loath to descend and 
march over the rough, rugged country which lay before us. 

We passed one or two lines of works after leaving Marietta, 
and camped at night about five and a half miles from there, close 
by the side of the railroad. While marching out from Marietta 
we met quite a number of deserters coming in, bringing their arms 
with them. They reported that the rebel army was nearly demor- 
alized. 

The Fourth dawned bright and beautiful, but by noon it had 
become so hot and sultry that breathing became very difficult. At 
six o'clock in the morning we moved our guns about half a mile to 
the front and left our caissons at our night's camp. The rebels 
appeared to have thrown up hasty works, and acted as though they 
were determined to stand behind them. With considerable reluc- 
tance they gave up their first line. Their artillery, stationed in 
small forts back of their second line, shelled us freely. The day 
was certainly too warm for charging or throwing up works, so it 
was passed in maneuvering and preparing for an early assault in 
the cool of the next morning. We moved the Battery first to one 
position and then to another — changing places several times dur- 
ing the day, but managing each time to stop in the open field, 
where the sun poured his burning rays almost perpendicularly upon 
us, and where shells and slugs appeared to be trying to see how 
near to us they could hit. At each new position Ave threw up 
slierht works, but were not allowed to fire. There were very few 
of us who were not perfectly willing to say nothing this day. 
Water was scarce and the day so hot it was about as much as one 
wished to do to breathe without working. And we were glad not 
to be ordered to engage two or three batteries which were posted 
so as to give an enfilading fire on us, each apparently with good 
earth works to protect it, while we had none. But, as it grew 
cooler, toward evening, we took position in an orchard beside a 
small house and worked till long after dark in throwing up a fort 
with flank protections for each gun, to guard against the effects of 
enfilading fire. 



ATI. AN IT \ I VMl'AION. 213 

Little " Battery' 1 left us on this day, and we mourned him as 
dead, thinking a stray bullet from the enemy had killed him. 

Early on the morning of the 5th the enemy sen! us a few 
bullets, but our skirmishers soon advanced to "feel them,' 1 uot a 
shut being fired from either side after they were in motion. On 
they went up to the rebel works and then over them, \\ hen behold, 
there stood about a dozen unarmed rebels before them ! Theothers 
had left during the night, and these were ordered to remain and 
keep up the firing that we might not know of their withdrawal. 

Our Batterj oioved out at eight o'clock. The 4th Corps 
traveled on the left side, and the 1 Itli on the right side of the rail- 
road, close by the side of the railroad track, till in the afternoon, 
when we crossed, and the two corps man lied side l>v side in the 
same road. The advance kept (dose up with the rebel rear guard 
all day, and every few minutes one side or the other would open 
with artillery. At two o'clock we came out on top of ahigh ridge. 
From here could be seen where several batteries ours and the 
rebels 1 were in position. We got ready to fire, but were ordered 
not to, as our lines were advancing so rapidly that it would make 
it unsafe to fire over them. 

We halted at 3 P. M. near the crossing at Vmings Station. 
Just to our left stood , high hill from which the signal corps was 
telegraphing to other posts. As we expected to lie here for some 
time, man) of us were soon on top of the hill. About three miles 
to the -..nth could he seen the whole rebel wagon train parked in a 
large opening near the railroad bridge, waiting to cross. The 7th 
Indiana Battery, with four ten-pounder Parrotts, was now on the 
hill and trying to reach the rebel wagons with its shell, hut the 
target was too far off to he hit. 

About ei^hf miles to the southeast could he seen what we had 
long been fighting for Atlanta. This was our first si<rht of the 

city. With its tall steeples looming Up before us. it seemed we 
could almost reach it with shell from where we stood. 

About three-quarters of ;i mile to the east of us flowed the 
murky Chattahoochee. Our next forward would bring us to it > 
bank; then we expected to have a loner siege, or a bloodj battle in 
order to effect a crossing. 

The body of a rebel soldier had been found hanging to ;i tree 
about half way down, and at the north end of the hill, lie had 
evidently hanged himself, as he was suspended by one of his 



214 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

suspenders. By papers found in his pocket, his name appeared to 
be B. P. Doncan. We afterwards learned that two more bodies had 
been found farther around to the west on the hill. 

This hill was known thereafter as Signal Hill. We used fre- 
quently to ask citizens the names of hills, mountains or creeks, 
and they would reply, " We don't know no name for it, but you 
uns call it so and so." 

At 8:30 .P. M. we moved forward about a mile and took posi- 
tion on a high ridge about two hundred feet above the river and 
near its edge. Battery A took position near us on our left. We 
immediately began fortifying, and were soon joined by some 
pioneers, who did so little and stole so much as to make us sorry 
they had not remained aw T ay. 

Baker, of gun 1, and Ryan, of gun 3. went to the hospital 
with scurvy. Baker never returned to the Battery. 

On the morning of the 6th we took a survey of our position. 
We were about forty rods from the river, and between us and it, 
and a little to our right, was a field of corn. Just below this field 
and on the opposite side, lay a pontoon bridge that the enemy had 
cut loose from our side and let it swing around to his own. This 
was at the regular ferry on the road from Marietta to Atlanta. 
The rebels had works thrown up on both sides of the road and 
extending some distance up and clown the river. Their works 
were within easy range of our cannon, and some so near that the 
infantry, lying behind them, reached us with their bullets. At 
eight o'clock the batteries above and below us began to shell the 
rebels. Shortly after Gen. Sherman and his chiefs of staff 
departments — Gens. Harry. Elliott and Corse; Gen. Thomas and 
his chiefs, Gens. Brannan and Whipple; and Gens. Howard, Palmer. 
Schofield, Newton and Wood visited us. They had Battery 
A fire a few shots, and then called upon gun 2, of our Battery. 
But there were too many gunners. Each general thought he 
knew best, so very poor shots were made. They chose some rebel 
works about 1,200 yards distant for a target, but failed to touch 
them. 

At night the cars arrived at Vinings Station, which, by the 
way, consisted of a wood shed and a small hut used as a telegraph 
office, and announced their coming to the rebels by whistling for 
about half an hour. The next day an engine ran out within 



ATLANTA I WIT \ I U N . '!]■> 

muskei shot of the enemy's lines, and whistled a long while at the 
Johnnies, who were so taken aback by this audacity on the part 
of our engineer thai they did not fire a shot. 

At 6 I'. M., on the 7th. we fired sixteen rounds at the rebel 
works near the pontoon in order to have the range in case the 
rebels should open, for we though! we detected a fort standing 
hack a short distance, hut nearly hidden by trees and brush in its 
front. At 8:15 we fired four guns, when immediately five other 
batteries stationed near us opened, and kept the air for about fif- 
teen minutes perfectly ablaze with the discharge of guns and the 
explosion of their shells. There was a large rebel camp, to judge 
from fires to be seen, about two miles to the east. T<> that we 
sent a number of shells. At 9:20 Gen. Howard sent us orders to 
fire two volleys at long range, so we sent them six thirty-second 
fuse and two percussion shells, each at an elevation of ten degrees. 
During the night the rebels tried to secure their pontoon by letting 
it drop down below our lines, hut as soon as it was cut loose it 
swung across to our side. Our forces quietly took possession of it. 
They also cut away considerable timber in front of their worksat 
the ferry, so that on the morning of the 8th we could plainl\ see 
their fort. Early in the morning they sent us a few bullets, some 
of which struck in our camp. During the day an understanding 
was come to between the picket lines, and hoth sides went in bath- 
ing together. Our men would swim over to their side, carrying 
coffee, gold pens, knives, etc.. and it: exchange bring back tobacco. 
This was continued for two or three days, till a rebel colonel, who 
was a Kentucky officer, ordered our men to remain on their own 
side of the nver. 

The enemy yet held quite a large district extending above ami 
below the railroad bridge on the west side of the river, and on the 
morning of the Nth. as Col. frank Sherman, with his orderly, rode 
out to examine our picket lines, he found himself inside the rebel 
lines and surrounded h\ rebel bayonets. 

At 2 A. M., on the 9th, pioneers went to the edge oi the 
river at the north end of the ridge on which we lay. and began 
cutting at and pounding on tree-, and occasionally would (hop 
one down. Others had a dozen planks which they would carry to 
ami fro. throwing them down near the water"- edge so as to make a 
noise. Some would play mule drivers and curse their teams vocif- 
erously. Officers would swear at the men. and tell them to hurry. 



216 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

work lively, .and not to make so much noise. Then others would 
splash in the water as though a pontoon was being launched. 
Thus it continued until just as day dawned, when all was cleared 
away, and by the time it was light enough for the rebels to see 
across the river there was not a sign left of anything having been 
done. This was a feint which attracted the enemy to this point 
so that a pontoon could be thrown across some distance above, 
where a crossing was effected and two cannon captured — the rebels 
having been taken by surprise. In the forenoon Battery A joined 
the division to go on a march up the river. They crossed the river 
about eight miles above us, and went seven miles further on the 
east side. At Rosswell our cavalry, which scoured the country on 
the flanks, captured a factory and three hundred female operatives; 
these three hundred were subsequently given their choice to go 
north or south, and about half of them went north. The division 
found no rebels, but great quantities of forage, for the valley 
along the river was a rich farming district. They lost seven men, 
killed, while they were gone. They returned on the 12th. 

During the time the division was absent we did very little. 
The rebels opened several times from their fort at the ferry, and 
fired at the men on Signal Hill. We replied to them three or four 
times, but they never returned the compliment. On the 11th, the 
enemy having got all their wagons and stores safely across the 
bridge, they burned it, leaving nothing to fall into our hands. 

At night after our division returned, we got orders to join it, so 
we were up by 3 A. M., of the 13th, and by daylight were ready to 
move. While letting our guns down the hill to where the limbers 
were, gun 4 got loose, and was soon going at the rate of two-forty. 
It finally stopped as it struck a stump and capsized, breaking one of 
the wheels and other portions of the carriage. Our division was found 
camped at Merritt's Mills, about three miles above. We unhitched 
and put up our tents, but at 9:30 had to hitch up and cross the pon- 
toon bridge about a mile further ou. This bridge was made of skeleton 
pontoons covered with canvas. We camped two miles southeast of 
the bridge and began to throw up works, working till 9 P. M. 

Blackberries were now ripening, and at every opportunity we 
were out in search of them, as they were wanted not only as a 
luxury but a preventive of scurvy. There were no rebels within 
two miles of us, so we had quite a large range, but there were so 
many others to share with us. that we got very few berries. 



ATLANTA CAMPAIGN. 



•217 



On the lith nit'ii were sent kick to Marietta for fresh horses. 
They brought about a dozen thai all declared were good frames. 

On tlif 17th Loomis joined us from hospital. We got a 
sprinkle of rain uearly every day, but not insufficient quantity to 
lay the dust. The season was quite late. Corn was only a little 
more than waist high, yet with all the rain and told weather we 
had had there were some days that were regular scorchers. 



CHAPTER XXIV. 



Now that our army was safely across the river, and with 
scarcely the loss of a man, and since we had had several days of 
rest, we must again onward, not to Richmond, but to Atlanta, the 
Gate City of the south, and the great objective point of this cam- 
paign. The 18th of July was the day on which the several 
portions of this grand army were to break camp. At two o'clock 
in the morning the "general" was sounding in all directions. We 
drew rations and by four o'clock were on the road. At seven 
o'clock the enemy's pickets Avere met and skirmishing began. In 
half an hour they opened on us with a battery, sending their 
shells crashing through the trees, cutting off limbs and exploding 
or burying themselves in the earth. Several went by and struck 
near our caissons. We took position, but the trees stood so thick 
we could not see to tire any distance. The rebels fell back and 
our forces followed on. At twelve o'clock they again made a 
stand and opened with their artillery. They had a battery on a 
high hill on the south side of Nancy's Creek. We took position in 
a level field on the north side and replied to them, but they soon 
withdreAv. Here Col. Opdycke lost his favorite horse. He had him 
buried and set up a finely lettered head-board at his grave. 

At 1 P. M. we halted at Buckhead Cross Roads, where five 
roads come together, and threw up a small work for defense, should 
the enemy try a charge. 

At noon the next day we took another position about forty 
rods to the left and made some embrasures in the works the 
infantry had built. At half past three received orders to hitch 
up, and moved about a mile to the front where we lay till dark, 
then moved over hills and through swampy creeks, most of the 
time picking our way through the brush and trees, and camped in 
an open space, on the south side of a hill, and nearly a mile to the 
left of the main road. 



ATLANTA CAMPAIGN. 219 

Were up by 2:30 A. M. on the 20th. As soon as it was day- 
light we discovered a large field of corn near by and gol -nine to 

£ I <»ur horses. At six o'clock the Battery moved out the 

infantry being already in motion going back toward the road. 
.Inst as we began to turn our pieces a bullet struck one of the car- 
riages. It came from the direction of the infantry camp, near 
Peach Tree Creek, and some one called out to them to be more 
careful, and was answered by a second one striking the lid of the 
kitten wagon just as the men were getting something out. It 
was then discovered thai we were within almost pistol shot of the 
rebel pickets. The\ soon wounded a man and a horse for Battery 
A and killed two of our horses. We took position in the edge of a 
field, to the right of the road, and began to throw ii|> works. It was 
rumored that all were to lie quiet till 5 P. M., or until the day became 
cooler, when the enemy's works on the south side were to he charged. 

The Johnnies had burned the bridge that spanned the creek 
at this point, and our pioneers were rapidly building another. The 
Creek was about sixty feet wide and eight to ten feet deep at this 
place. On the south side there was a high hill over which the 

road passed. The road ascended the hill by winding along between 
it and the creek, for a short distance, and then going up a gradual 
slope. The south side of this hill was quite steep. About one 
thousand yards farther on was another hill that was as high above 
the tirst as that was above the creek. The enemy had strong 
works on both of these hills, hut had been driven from the first by 
our advance. The rebels had a battery on the second hill and 
shelled us nearly the whole forenoon with it. 

Ahout I I'. M. our infantry had effected a crossing, and. push- 
ing on. found no enemy even on top id' the second hill, his artillery 
having been withdrawn as soon as our forces were cro^sinc- the 

creek. The 20th Corps had also effected a crossing t ir right, 

and ahout half a mile down the stream. The enemj appeared to 
he engaging it some distance farther down for there was very 
heavy musketry and artillery firing going on. 

\- soon a- our infantry ascended the second hill, our Batterj 
was ordered across in great haste by an officer of Gen. Thomas* 
staff, who rode on to order up other batteries 1\ iiiu' in rear id' our 
posit ion. 

.lust a- we readied the summit of the tirst hill with our guns, 
at 1:1"). we discovered the enemyissuing from the wood- in our 



220 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

front and to the left of the second hill, and almost immediately 
a volley of bullets was sent into' our broadside. Our infantry had 
thrown up some feeble works here. We unlimbered as best we 
could, in the sudden jam that was occasioned by this unexpected 
attack, and began to shell the enemy, who had planted two guns at 
the edge of the woods to engage us and thus draw our fire from 
his infantry. These guns fired but three shots before they had to 
limber to the rear, and we heard no more from them. It was 
evident the rebels were attempting to reach the bridge and thus 
cut us off from our left wing; and could they but reach the shel- 
ter of the hill, on which we stood, the way would be open to them. 
Through the fields below us came heavy columns of the enemy, 
with colors flying, and in as fine array as if on dress parade. 
Gen. Thomas, who was standing near our guns, was the first to 
point out the enemy, with the words, "There they are; give them 
canister." We poured in the shrapnell, and, as these columns 
came nearer we gave them canister, and as they came still nearer 
we double-shotted our guns, General Thomas, meanwhile, looking 
on and clapping his hands as he saw them waver. " Give it to 
them!" "Well done!" "That is good!" he would shout. As 
we finally checked them, when they had almost reached the foot of 
the hill and shelled them back to the cover of the woods, he said: 
"You have driven them back well; now give them a cheer." But 
never had a hearty cheer been heard in the Battery, and even on 
this occasion we could not raise one. We had done most efficient 
work and had come into position at a most opportune moment; 
had made the most of our grand opportunity, but, as usual, we 
most fortunately had but one man wounded — Scanlon, of gun 1, 
detailed from 3d Wisconsin Battery, who had been hit in the heel by 
a bullet, while we had inflicted a most severe loss upon the enemy. 
The rebels wavered and rallied three times, and when they fin- 
ally broke were so nearly under us that to depress his piece suffi- 
ciently to reach them, the gunner of gun 3, held the trail as high 
as his breast as he commanded fire. He measured his length on 
the ground some feet to the rear of where he had stood, but luckily 
received no severe hurt. Once Lieut. Burton mounted the works 
just at the muzzle of one of the guns, as the command fire was given 
by the gunner, and, had the man at the lanyard not observed him, the 
lieutenant would have lost his life by one of his own guns. Dur- 
ing this day we fired about three hundred rounds. 



\TI \NT \ I WI1' \h.N 221 

Battery A. 1st Ohio, was in position at tin' fool of tin- second 
hill ami did excellent execution. We were on the extreme left of 
our portion of the army, there being only a portion of a regiment 
above us, on the creek: then there was a gap of over four miles ( (P 
the right of Mcpherson's corps, which was passing around the 
enemy's right to attack Atlanta from the east. 

Johnston had that day been removed and Hood placed at the 
head of the rebel army. Hood was aware of the gap before men- 
tioned, and. seeing an opportunity to make his name immortal. 
ordered the charge. He was mistaken in the exact locality of the 
gap, and his mistake probably saved as several months of hard 
fighting and many lives. As luck would have it his right hap- 
pened to agree exactly with our left and thus, he was met at every 
point. We confronted Stevens 1 division of Hardee's corps. Stevens 
was mortally wounded and his dead horse was left lying about half 
way between our guns and and the woods. 

A rebel correspondent, from the rebel headquarters, thus 
describes that day in a letter to a Macon paper. 

" Night, duly '20. A battle, or rather an engagement, has 
taken place, ami the fitful Hashes of musketry along the lines denote 
that it has ended without substantial results. 1 will not enter much 
into details, and probably it would not he prudent to do so. First, 
because of the incompleteness of the affair, and secondly, the lia- 
bility of capture while this letter isen-routetoMacon.it being 
likely that the enemy will strike our only remaining line of com- 
munication to-night. The following, therefore, is only a simple 
outline of the afternoon's work: 

••The object of (Ten. Hood in planning the attack was twofold, 
namely, to withdraw if possible from the enemy's left, to center 
ami right, a portion of the forces with which he had been so per- 
sistently pressing our right; and to defeat and cut up one of his 
wings. By examining the map and recalling the preceding descrip- 
tion of the situation of Sherman's forces, you will observe that a 
portion of the line of 1 he latter extended from near the junction id' 
the Chattahoochee and Peach Tree Creek in an easterly direction. 
I nto this angle it was believed that by a proper combination of our 
forces, we could drive the right of Sherman's army, and effect the 
object in view. Stewart's corps held our left, Hardee the center. 
The attack by these two bodies was uearly simultaneous. The 
advance com men ced about two o'clock. Leaving their breasl works 



222 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

our men slowly, but confidently, pushed their way toward the front. 
Skirmishing began almost immediately. Strange to say, a part of the 
enemy's line was discovered to be advancing. Our men charged with 
a yell and drove it back in disorder. One, two, and in some instances 
three lines of incipient or temporary breastworks were mounted and 
left behind, and the battle in our favor appeared to go on swimmingly m 
( This w r as in front of the 14th and 20th Corps. ) Suddenly Stewart 
was brought to a standstill. In his front w T as the main line of 
Yankee intrenchments and a redoubt manned by a Yankee battery. 

"Gathering fresh strength, however, one of his brigades 
plunged against the works and it yielded. A heavy enfilading fire 
from a park of artillery on the right drove them back. The 
federals re-occupied the redoubt. Our men advanced a second 
time and again captured it; but the same terrible fire, pouring 
upon them from the distant artillery, they were compelled to 
abandon the prize. Meanwhile, Hardee had also reached the con- 
tinuation of the same line. (In front of our Battery.) His 
men fighting bravely, had overcome every obstacle thus far, and 
were prepared to dash yet further on and drive the enemy into the 
creek. But here the judgment of the commander and the 
gallantry of the troops were at variance. 

"Gen. Hardee deemed it imprudent to risk the lives of his 
men in achieving an object which threatened to cost so much. A 
halt was ordered. Our loss in the affair will doubtless not fall 
short of 1,000 or 1,200. Six hundred and five killed and wounded 
have been reported in the corps of Gen. Stewart. Our captures 
are two or three stands of colors (they lost nearly a dozen) and 
some three or four hundred prisoners. Hooker's corps is reported 
by prisoners to be badly crippled.' 1 

"Gen. Stevens was shot (in our front as before stated) while 
leading his men; the ball entering behind the right ear and lodg- 
ing in the brain, from which it has not, up to this writing, been 
removed. His horse was killed at the same moment, and two men 
who went to his relief were wounded. One may judge of the 
severity of the enemy's fire from these statements." 

At 5:30 our right section was sent to our previous night's 
camp to check the rebels at that point should they again advance. 
Thus closed our third noted 20th. 

Next clay all the dead in our front were buried, but the enemy 
would not allow the 20th Corps to bury the dead rebels in their 



ATI. Wl \ I A.Ml'AION. •J - .':! 

front, neither would the rebels bury them themselves, so t hot l>\ 
the 22d, when the enemy had withdrawn, the bodies had lain so 
long in the hoi sun thai no one fell like approaching them; and 
thus many were never buried. 

On the morning of the '.'"-M. we drew large rations of whisky, 
and soon some were feeling good. We moved out al 9:30. At 
twelve the righi section moved forward and took position, and al 
three the centre section also took position, but we had order- no! 
to tire until the works were sufficiently strong to warrant it. so 
we fortified, being shelled all the afternoon by the enemy who 
was scouring the woods in search of Yankees as far as he could 
reach with his shells. Our caissons were lefl aboul half a mile 
to the rear and were in quite as much danger as were the guns. 
The works we were building and on which We worked all nighi 
were, as we afterwards learned, one mile and a quarter from the 
city, and about eighty rods to the right of the Atlanta and Mari- 
etta pike. 

During the day heavy firing was heard toward the left front. 
and we were told it was McPherson approaching the easl side of 
the city. At one time it was reported he was already in the city. 
The news was hurried to the rear and next morning's Chattanooga 
Gas( tU contained a long account of the capture of the Gate City, 
and of how grand the stars and stripes appeared as they waved 
over the court house. There really was some ground for the 
rumor, as McPherson's troops were really inside the city limits at 
one time, and there is little doubt that, could our part of the army 
have engaged the attention of the enemy so as to have drawn 
some of his force to our front, the city might have been ours that 
day and the rebel army badly crippled. Toward nigh! we received 
the painful announcement of McPherson's death. Although we 
hail never served under him. yet we looked upon him as being an 
able general, and all felt that in his death the nation had suffered 
a great loss. 



CHAPTER XXV. 



Atlanta was not yet taken, and as it seemed imprudent to at- 
tempt its capture by charging its formidable works, a regular siege 
was begun. Accordingly "fortify 11 was the order, and, wherever 
there was a portion of the enemy's lines which if taken would 
straighten ours, a charge had to be made. Thus the 20th, 14th 
and afterwards the 16th, 17th and 23d Corps captured several lines 
of fortifications. With the 4th Corps our first lines were our last 
with slight exceptions as we were as near the enemy^ forts as the 
lay of the country would permit us to approach. Between the 
ridge on which we were and that on which the enemy had his 
forts, was a sort of valley broken directly in front of our Battery 
by a hill so high as to obscure our view of what lay beyond. 

We continued our work on the 23d. The enemy shelled the 
woods all clay, doing but little damage. The shells appeared to be 
hunting either the commanders' or the cooks 1 and dog-robbers 1 
headquarters ; for they were sent far to the rear of the main lines. 
Our caissons went into regular camp about a mile to the rear of 
our guns, the captain making his headquarters with them. 

Being now in what was thought to be a permanent position 
for at least the next month, we ventured that night to divest oar- 
selves of most of our clothing. At midnight the enemy suddenly 
made a noisy demonstration; we sprang to our pieces in just the 
garb suited for warm work, but as all was soon quiet, we laid down 
again, not having had a word to say. 

Our horses at the guns were kept in harness all the time so as 
to be ready for a move. In the afternoon of the 24th they were 
sent to the rear and the caisson horses brought to relieve them. 
That day Battery M, 1st Ohio, joined the division. The enemy 
shelled the woods all day. 

By 4 P. M., of the 25th, our works were considered com- 
plete, but as those adjoining us were not, we were not allowed to 
open, although orders had been given to open all along the lines, 



ATLANTA CAMPAIGN. 225 

and we had received the contents of the caisson limbers ;it the 
jj*uiis so lis to bave a store to work from. The enemy sent a num- 
ber of shells, some of which struck uncomfortably near us. 

That day Gen. Howard left us to assume command of the 
Army of the Tennessee. We greatly regretted his departure, yet, 
in his successor. Gen. Stanley, we placed implicit confidence. 

Gen. Kimball succeeded Gen. Stanley iii command of the first 
division, and Maj. Osborne was made chief of artillery. 

In this camp we found ourselves blessed with such associates 
as scorpions, jiggers, lizards tarantulas, and flies by the myriads 
were regular boarders at our tents. The springs were so murky 
with particles of mica that one avoided drinking the water unless 
it had first been allowed to settle, and then it was too warm to 
drink. Newts and frogs appeared to thrive well in these springs. 

On the 26th the program suddenly changed. The rebels now 

had very little to say while we had become \cvy noisy. At i n 

nearly every battery on our lines opened. In the afternoon our 
center section took another position about forty rods to the left 
and made fresh embrasures. Toward night the extra ammunition 
was sent back to the caissons. Balziger went to the hospital. 

On the 27th the Army of the Tenness vacuated its works 

extending across the A.ugusta railroad, and began moving around 
to the right. A.S soon as the enemy discovered the movement, he 
began shelling the empty works with great vigor, andgradually 
worked the fire around toward our right. As it swept past us we 
received a few compliments in the shape of some caillp-ket t le> 

(thirty-two and sixty-four pounder shells). We replied to them. 
Our corps (the Ithi and 23d Corps stretched out toward our left 
SO as to cover the railroad. 

That day three of our men who belonged to infantry regi- 
ments, but who had been detailed from. Battery <i. 1st Missouri, 
and also Barclay, of Colvin's battery, returned to their commands. 
\~ the Army of the Tennessee wagon and ambulance train 
was passing, our little "Battery" was discovered and rescued, not- 
withstanding the protestations of an ambulance driver, "That the 
dog was his and had Keen with him for months." "Battery" was 
warmly received by all of us. We also saw three large squads of 
negroes that McPherson had captured. They had Keen fortifying 
for the rebels, but were now well guarded and allowed to fortify 
for the Yankees whenever there was necessity. 



226 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

It was 8 A. M., on the 28th, before a shot was fired. The 
silence seemed ominous. Reports came in that the rebels were 
marching toward their left to meet our forces wherever they 
should stop. As the troops were still inarching by, the captain of 
Battery H, 1st Illinois, rode up and inquired if we had three men 
named Gammon, Albee and Krum, and when told we had, he said 
they belonged to his battery and ordered them to report there im- 
mediately. The explanation of this strange proceeding was that 
our battery was first known at home as Miller's battery and when 
these men went to enlist in our Battery — they having several 
acquaintances in it — they said they wanted to enlist in Miller's 
battery. The mustering officer told them he knew of no such bat- 
tery, but thought it must be Battery H, 1st Illinois, so they were 
mustered in for that battery and came to ours. It was arranged 
to let them remain with us. 

About noon heavy cannonading and musketry was heard in 
the distance toward the right, and continued till night. The 
infantry along our lines was ordered to make demonstrations to 
keep the enemy from moving to the right. In the afternoon we 
shelled the city. It was stated that an officer asked Sherman if it 
would not be w T ell to send them warning in Atlanta before he- 
opened on it. The general's answer was said to have been, "Send 
them warning! Why, I have warned them ever since I started on 
this campaign. The first shot fired at Rocky Face was a summons 
for them to leave Atlanta." 

On account of the high hill and dense woods between us and 
the city we could not see where to fire, and therefore made an 
observatory in the top of a tall pine tree that stood near our guns. 
A man stationed in this would tell us whether we fired too high, 
too low, too far to the right or too far to the left, until finally we 
could hit any house we chose that stood within range. By our 
reckonings we were just one and seven-eighths miles from the 
round house that stood near the middle of the city as to north 
and south. Our fire was directed mostly to this point. 

That day Gen. Hooker left for Washington and Lieut. Fluskey 
returned from Chattanooga. 

At 10 P. M. we received orders to fire two rounds every five 
minutes from then till daylight, at Atlanta. 

It was rumored that Howard had caused a loss of over 10,000 
to the enemy that day! And it was reported that we and other 



ATI. A NT \ CAMPAIGN. ZZi 

batteries had been ordered to shell the city to prevent II I 

making a hospital of the city. 

On the 29th there was a report that a large band of guerrillas 
was in the rear on the road by which we had come, and orders 
were issued for uo more teams to go that way. Sergt. Tait had 
long been in charge of our forage wagons. That afternoon he 
came through from .Marietta over the same road, and said all the 

ground there was for a scare was that a lot of Our men were 

shooting pigs. 

Corp. Brumfield was detailed to the 2d Division Ordnance 
Department. ( In this da\ we fired about L 60 rounds. 

On the 30th the horses at the guns were again relieved. All 
the artillery of the corps, which was composed of the 6th Ohio. 
5th Indiana. 2d Pennsylvania, A. 1st Ohio. M, 1st Illinois. M. 1st 
Ohio, and Bridges 1 battery, was now placed under one commander 
and was to be known as the artillery brigade of the Ith Corps, 
('apt. Bridges was made chief of the brigade. He was to have one 
assistant, and he chose a surly Kentucky captain named Tomlinson, 
who. lor his persistent fault finding, we soon nicknamed "Capt. 
Troublesome." He inspected us on the 31st and made great ado 
because we were not all wearing new pants and jackets, and had 
not our shoes blacked. He said that on the next Sunday, when 
he came around, we must have our hoots blacked. We thought 
that style might do for some Mich place as Nashville, hnt here at the 
front where we could not curry a second suit, we couldn t see it. 
The day appeared to be generally observed by both sides, as there 
was scarcely a shot tired. 

This month we had marched thirty-two miles: Keen under 
fire thirty-one days; been engaged nine days: and had fired 982 
rounds from our four guns. 

A.ugust opened with heavy cannonading on both sides, which 
was kept up all day. 

That day the 23d Corps moved to the right, thus leaving the 
ith Corps on the extreme left, save a small cavalry force that was 
kept to watch the think. As the corps had to spread out so as to 

occupy the whole ground lately occupied by the 23d, it made our 
lines quite thin, ami to maintain our strength we had to greatly 
strengthen the work-. 

On the 2d Battery A was relieved at the front h\ Battery M. 
1st Ohio, and went into reserve coup near our caissons. 



228 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

On the 3d there was considerable cannonading on the right. 
We received orders to be ready to march at a moment's warning. 
The 23d Corps was having a warm time. The 14th Corps was 
ordered to its support, but moved so slowly on account of a ques- 
tion of rank between the commanding officers of the two corps, 
that it was not up in time to lend much aid. Gen. Palmer, who 
seemed to be at fault, was accordingly allowed to go home. To 
our right the lines advanced and easily captured three lines of 
works — the enemy being mostly farther to the right opposing 
Schofield. This brought our men within twenty rods of the 
enemy's forts, and so near the city that their bullets easily 
reached it. 

The right section fired some and was replied to. One rebel 
shell killed both of the lead horses of gun 3, the enemy having 
shelled both sections. 

Before our men closed up on the Johnnies ladies from Atlanta 
used to come out and stand on the rebel works to view ours. This 
was allowed till it was discovered that just as soon as a Yankee 
showed his head above the works a couple of bullets whizzed by. 
The trick worked no longer. When the women next appeared 
upon the works, a volley was sent over — the bullets passing just 
high enough to not hit them. The ladies took the hint and came 
no more to see the Yankees. 

On the 4th Wesley Briggs was detailed to act as artillery 
brigade wagon-master, and we received orders to get and deliver 
our mail at the artillery brigade headquarters instead of at the 3d 
Brigade. Twice during the night there was heavy cannonading 
on our right. 

During the greater portion of the 5th heavy firing could be 
heard on the distant right. At 2:30 the infantry on our lines 
made a feint to draw the rebels from the right. All the artillery 
bearing on the city opened, and it was certainly warm enough to 
make them " hunt their bomb-proofs." 

The bridge over the Chattahoochee being completed, the 
trains arrived during the afternoon. They made great noise with 
their whistles, but we think the soldiers outdid them. After 
having listened long to the whistle of the enemy's engines, it 
seemed so good to have our own trains once more where we could 
hear them, that all must shout and cheer — always excepting 
Battery M, which never had cheered yet. 



ATI. \\ I \ CAMPAIGN". ".'•.".I 

Toward night we took our caissons to the creek to wash them 
that they might Look trim, even if the men did not, at the inspec- 
tion next Sunday. 

A.fter this date the teams were sent out daily for forage. \t 
first there was an abundance of corn along Nancy's Creek, but 
that was soon gone after the cavalry had mad.' its camp about a 
mile to the rear of our guns. Then we must send in different 
directions, until, finally, there was not a load of good corn to be 
had inside of seven or eight miles. Sometimes the teams (we 
generally sent two) would go on to the Hog Mountain, the 
Roswell or Marietta road, alter passing Buckhead. Toward the 
latter part of the siege, the infantry began going out in large 
squads as guards sometimes a whole regiment. On such occa- 
sions the teams would go ten or twelve miles often inside of 
acknowledged rebel ground. Sometimes our men would, after 
they had loaded their two wagons, star! off ou a bumming expedi- 
tion, but never more than three together. They would sometimes 
go three or four miles farther than the wagons had gone, and 
would always return with all the apples, berries, potatoes, etc., 
they could carry. That all might have a chance, different ones, or 
those from different messes, were sent out. This gave those at, 
the guns a nearer equal chance with those at the caissons; the 
former being now far more in need of vegetables than the latter. 
The cavalry vedettes were always careful to allow no wagon to 
pass out unless it had a suitable guard, i. e., four or live men 
along. One day the colonel commanding the picket post would 
not allow any teams to pass out. The enemy must he in consider- 
able force for they had come inside the colonel's lines and captured 
two of hi- men. Two of our corporals were with our teams that 
day; they had heard of a like incident some days before and. mis- 
trusting it was the same, they ventured to ask the colonel 
when the men were captured. "■Three days ago, 11 said the 
colonel. •• Why. we were out ten miles in this direction twice 
since then and saw no rebels." As soon as the guard learned 
when the men had been captured, they Laughed so heartily to 
think the cavalry were just beginning to feel scared about it, 
that the colonel finally concluded they might pa—, "lint I 
shall send out a Large squad of cavalry to he on hand in case 
of need.*' There were hut few citizens at home through the 
country. 



230 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

Nearly every day we saluted the city with our shells. Some- 
times the enemy would reply by sending us a few "camp-kettles" 
or smaller missiles. One day " Charley " was sitting under a tree 
a short distance from the guns enjoying its cooling shade. A 
freakish shell soon came along and struck the tree near the top, 
fell to the ground and exploded, enveloping " Charley " in smoke. 
Many rushed toward him, thinking he was mortally wounded if 
not killed, but how rejoiced were all to see him jump from the 
smoke and run toward us unhurt, but exclaiming, " I never cut 
my fuse that short before; " perhaps meaning that he had never 
had one of his shells explode until it had got farther from him. 

On the 7th Lieut. Fluskey went to the 2d Division hospital, 
having been taken down with the measles. The sanitary com- 
mission sent us half a barrel of dried apples that day. 

Since Battery A had been in reserve they were busy making 
neat's-foot oil for the artillery brigade harness. On this day, 
although it was Sunday, we began oiling our harness. This day 
Mareks was transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps. We might 
here state that the members of this corps were styled in the army 
" Condemned Yankees." They were so dressed that they could be 
easily distinguished as far as seen and were kept in the rear to 
guard hospitals, patrol the streets of cities, etc. 

On the 8th Quartermaster Sergt. Murphy was mustered in as 
junior 2d lieutenant in the Battery. Corporal Nathaniel Banks, 
of Squad 4, was made sergeant of No. 4 vice Sergt. Hansell, pro- 
moted to till the vacancy occasioned by Sergt. Murphy's promo- 
tion. Wm. Hamilton was promoted to corporal to fill Banks' 
place as chief of caisson. 

On the next day we began building shades for our horses. 
The caissons had already changed position four or five times, but 
now they settled down in permanent camp, putting the caissons 
in park. The tents of those belonging to the caissons were placed 
in regular order and covered with shades, the camp ground being 
policed daily. 

On the 12th John G. McAllister, aged twenty-four, enlisted 
at Springfield, 111., for the term of one year, for our Battery. 

At the caissons, on the 12th, one of the detailed men was on 
guard ( ?) and instead of being among caissons, was found by the 
captain racing through camp cdiasing some of the men around 
with his sword. After this the guards had to walk their beats, 



\T1. \NT A I WH'AIIIN 231 

and this was followed by the resumption of the regular morning 
roll-call. The same day orders were issued to deal out qo more 
salt meat during the rest of the month. The beef we were draw- 
ing was generally of the quality we had received at Blains Cross 
Roads, for forage for the cattle was not to be had where ii was 
safe to keep them, and thus the old practice of killing the poorest 
animals was again in vogue. 

On the l-Uh Lieut. Fluskey was mustered in as junior 1st 
lieutenant. At s P. M. the Batter} received orders to fire two 
rounds per minute till daylight, at the city. Other batteries had 
similar orders. At midnight a large fire appeared near the heart 
of the city. Bells rang, cries of "Fire! fire!" were heard and a 
genera] hubbub appeared to be in progress. In about an hour the 
fire was stifled. The next night there was another large fire in 
the city. 

On the llth Lieut. Fluskey started for Chattanooga on busi- 
ness for the artillery brigade. That da\ Orderly Sergt. Gillette 
was mustered as senior 2d lieutenant, and on the 1 5th Corporal 
Morgan Banks, of gun t. was promoted to till the vacancy. John 
Scales was promoted to Hanks' place as gunner of gun 1. 

On the KHh Sergt. Tait and Corp. Harter started for Marietta 
with some more of our worn-out horses, and to draw fresh ones in 
their places. They returned on the '21st. 

In the afternoon of the 16th the rebels were seen to be mass- 
ing in front of the 20th Corps. Orders were issued for us to have 
a large supply of ammunition on hand, and for all to lie on their 
arms that night. During the night rockets were sent up at dif- 
ferent points inside the rebel lines, and it was expected every 
minute the attack would commence. There were some fears en- 
tertained of some of our works being undermined, ami it was 
thought the mines would he exploded during this night, hut the 
17th dawned bright and (dear nothing having occurred to mar the 
quiet of the night. 

At 5 I'. M.. on the 17th. ('apt. Grant, aide to ("apt. Tonilin- 
son, inspected us. We received orders to draw three days 1 rations 
for ourselves and six for our horses, as if preparing for a march. 
At 8 P. M. Battery A and a small force of infantry moved about 
three miles to the left. Once there, they began to make as much 
noise as possible, SO as to appeal' to he a large force. The infantry 
bugles sounded the "halt" at different places ami immediately fires 



232 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

• 

would spring up at each place, as though a regiment was encamp- 
ing. The battery bugle would sound the 'malt; 11 then the '"stable 
call; 11 then going around a hill, would halt in another place, and 
go through the same performance. Thus they continued, till near 
midnight, when they returned to their old camp, well tired out. 

This feint was intended to make the enemy believe our troops 
were again moving to the left, satisfied we could not reach their 
only remaining line of railroad on our right, or that we were re- 
ceiving large reinforcements. 

At 4 A. M., on the 18th, the enemy thought they would test 
our lines in front of the 20th Corps to see if we were yet there. 
They opened with all their artillery that bore on that part of our 
lines and continued the fire till nearly seven o'clock, our batteries 
replying very leisurely. At the same hour on the 19th they again 
opened, but had fired only two rounds before all our artillery 
within range of their guns began to fire as rapidly as possible. 
Not another shot came from their side. We thought the display 
of fire-works on the night when we shelled the enemy on the 
banks of the Chattahoochee was grand, but this was sublime! 
Never before or after did we see anything to compare with it. 
The surrounding space was kept as light as day for about forty 
minutes by the flashes of guns, the burning of fuses and exploding 
of shells. 

For some time there had been two lotteries of thirty pounders 
on our portion of the lines — one in the 20th Corps, the other ad- 
joining us on the right. At 7:30, this morning, one of the guns 
near us exploded a caisson that stood in one of the enemy's forts. 
This success called forth loud cheering from our side. Some of 
the thirty-pounder shell made a noise much resembling a passenger 
locomotive as it leaves a station, and we soon called them "loco- 
motives" — calling out to the Johnnies as one would start: "There 
goes another locomotive; add that to your 'rolling stock 1 !" 

On the 19th Corp. Brumfield met with an accident. He was 
mounting his horse and, slipping, fell and hurt himself quite 
seriously. He was sent to the hospital. 

On the 20th, contrary to "beef orders," we drew a num- 
ber of shoulders. They were so strong they completely 
overpowered us, and we had quite a task to get them out of camp. 
We were worse off than though we had beef; for now we had no 
•meat. 



ATLANTA CAMPAIGN. 233 

There was now rain nearly every day and sometimes in very 
hard showers. This rain was greatly enjoyed, not even one com- 
plaining when it fell the fastest. 

On the 22d there was considerable stir among the members of 
the center section, over two or three of their number receiving 
heavy extra duty for doing what, till then, had not been consid- 
ered an offense. The captain, however, set all to rights by with- 
drawing the extra duty, and informing the young lieutenant who 
had bestowed it. that he would not allow a repetition. 

We hail preserved nearly all the "port-fires" drawn with our 
ammunition on the campaign, not knowing what use we should 
ever have for them, they being intended for use in firing our guns 
should our supply of friction primers run out. But now. when 
the object was to destroy as much of the city as possible, in order 
to hasten its surrender, we bethought ourselves that as this burned 
much the same as Greek-fire, it might lie made to fulfil] the same 
office. Accordingly we cut the port-fire into pieces about one inch 
and a half lone-, and emptying some of the powder out of the 
shells tilled them with these piece-. Whether they did the work 
intended, we do not know, but we do know that tire- were of fre- 
quent occurrence in Atlanta while we lay before it. 

On the 'I'.'A we s;,\\ some id' our old friends of the 10th 
Indiana Battery who were now connected with the cavalry. Thev 
had shortly before returned from their trip around Atlanta, and 
gave us a glowing account of the number of nude- and horses, be- 
longing to rebel wagon trains, they had captured or killed. Also 
of their escape when they charged and cut their way through the 
columns of the enemy who had surrounded them, and also of the 
"brick" for courage Col. Brownlow had again proved himself to I.e. 

On the 24th orders were received to keep three days' rations 
on hand, and that men and horses were to have only about hall' 

rations thereafter. In the afterno< tiers came for lis to he 

ready to march by night of the next day. Toward night a large 
tire appeared in Atlanta, and it was thought the enemy was burn- 
ing hi- -ton- preparatory to evacuation. 

This was our la-t day of firing at the city. Since we had lain 
before it we had tired 2,350 rounds of ammunition from our four 
-■mis. 



CHAPTER XXVI. 



For some time there had been a rumor that our lines on the 
left were to be drawn in or rather swung around so as to make the 
railroad the line. On the morning of the 25th of August, as we 
withdrew our guns from the works and were temporarily relieved 
by Battery M, 1st Ohio, there was much conjecture as to our des- 
tination. It was learned that at night the lines at this point were 
to be abandoned. Not knowing what was the move, and finding 
no one who knew, all were forced to await results to have their 
queries answered. Certainly we were not going to make the rail- 
road our next line, for Bill's team was dispatched to draw fifteen 
days 1 rations for us. As the whole Battery lay at the camp of the 
caissons awaiting the bugle call "Stand to horse 11 it began to rain 
as hard as we had known it to during the campaign. "Well, boys, 
you can just set it down that we are going on a long march, 11 was 
the general decision. 

We started at 1:30 P. M. and moved toward the right, camp- 
ing at night on a high hill in rear of the 16th Corps, and about 
seven miles from our late camp. The rebels had formerly held the 
hill, and had built strong works on it. Our forces had subse- 
qently built stronger ones facing toward Atlanta, so we were pro- 
tected on all sides. No large fires were allowed to be built, nor 
were we allowed to show ourselves on the works. At an old 
hospital camp, at the foot of the hill, was found large quantities 
of desiccated vegetables which proved to be quite a godsend when, 
a few days later, we had little else to eat. 

From this hill we had a plain view of Atlanta — distant about 
two miles. It was the first time we had been where there was an 
unobstructed sight at the object for which we had been so long 
contending. 

That afternoon Sergt. Tait had been sent to our old caisson 
camp to await the arrival of one of our mule-teams to load up the 



ATLANTA CAMPAIGN". 235 

corn we had left there. The team, minus the corn, joined us the 
next day, but we never saw Sergt. Tail again. From an artillery- 
man, who was exchanged through the cartel entered into between 
Sherman and Hood a short time after, we Learned thai Tail was 

takni to Am. 'liens where this man bad met him. He said Tait 
told him he had waited till late at night for the wagon, and then 
lieum wearj he tied his horse, laid down on the sacks of corn and 
soon fell asleep. \\ hen he next awoke the sun was shining bright 
and (dear in his face. He sprang to his feet, remembering that 
the troops had been withdrawn, and thinking it was time for him 
to be leaving, but looking around discovered he was surrounded by 
rebels who were leisurelj walking over our late camp to see what 
they could find. They had removed his horse and had allowed 
him to sleep on undisturbed, hut as soon as they discovered he was 
awake they politely informed him he was a prisoner. 

At midnight on the 25th the infantry began to arrive. They 
also, as many as could, camped on the hill on which we were. 

The 26th dawned clear and beautiful quite like a spring 
morning. At noon it rained \t'\-\ hard, alter which it became 
ver\ warm and sultry. As soon as it was daylight the infantry 
crowded <>n top of the works to get a view of Atlanta. About 
seven o'clock the enemy discovered it and opened on us from three 
different forts. Some of his shells struck on the side of the hill. 
but most of them passed high ahove so high that some made no 
more noise to our ears than a passing swarm of bees. We hitched 
up and moved out to get beyond their range. The enemy's in- 
fantry was already following in ' steps of yesterday and began 

to skirmish with our rear guard just as we pulled out. They 
thought to capture a lot id' Yankees, but the tables were so far 
turned as to cause about a score of Johnnies to lay down their 
arm- and march under a federal guard. 

We man lied at times quite fast, and at twelve, halted after 
crossing Qtoy Creek, in an ore hard near the forks of the Atlanta. 
Sandtown, Red Oak and East Point roads. The heavy rains soon 
raised the creek to overflowing its hanks, so it was with difficulty 
the infantry crossed. At I I'. M. the battery took position on a 
high hill about a mile east of the Forks, facing our guns to the 
southeast and bearing on the Army id' the Tennessee wagon train 
that lay about a mile in our front. front! We could uot tell 
which way was front, for our guns were. ley order-, faced to the 



236 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

southeast while we expected the enemy to come in from the south, 
west and north! 

At 9:15, on the 27th. the brigade moved to the Forks and lay 
there till eleven o'clock when they moved out on the Red Oak 
road. Much of the way the artillery brigade had to march at the 
side of the road, as the main track was so badly cut up we could 
not travel in it. In many places it was necessary to cut roads 
through the thick, young undergrowth. Capt. Tomlinson called 
for a detail of five men from the Battery to act as pioneers. Gen. 
Newton remonstrated — arguing it was the duty of the pioneers to 
keep our road open, but the captain prevailed, and the detail was 
accordingly made out and sent ahead of the column. At 2 P. M. 
we came up with a squad of the enemy. Our infantry began im- 
mediately to throw up works facing to the east and south, and 
soon a formidable line of breastworks over a mile in length was 
ready to aid in repelling any charge the enemy might make. 
There was a creek called Camp Creek about eighty rods in our 
front. On the south side of this creek was a large field of corn, 
the first we had seen on this march. Some of the infantry were 
soon at the creek endeavoring to effect a crossing to get some of 
the corn, but found the rebels so watchful that they had to desist. 
Before the works were half completed the enemy had opened with 
two guns from a hill beyond the corn field; but on\j fired a few 
rounds. At six o'clock the 6th Ohio and Bridges' battery having 
thrown up some works on a hill, in advance of the main line, 
opened on the spot from whence the rebels had fired some four 
hours before, but as the enemy no longer had any guns there they 
received no reply. 

Before breaking camp, on the morning of the 28th, we re- 
ceived strict orders to put nothing, not even a fry-pan, on the 
caissons or guns. At 7:40 we moved about a mile southwest, 
across Camp Creek, but our advance had gone only a few rods be- 
yond ere they were greeted by a volley of musketry. The artillery 
was immediately parked. We lay there till 4 P. M., then 
recrossed the creek and returned to near our last night's camp. 
At 5 P. M. the caissons were sent back to inarch with the reserve 
artillery of our brigade. We soon after advanced about four 
miles south and camped within about a mile of the Montgomery 
railroad. At 8:15 the caissons followed and camped at midnight 
half a mile nearer the railroad. 



ATLANTA CAMPAIGN. 231 

That day we tried to draw rations, 1 mi could not, as we were 
supposed to have fifteen days 1 rations in one of our wagons. The 
wagon was not up with us yet, and all watched eagerly for its 
arrival. At lasi it was seen comingup! Now, certainly, we should 
have something to eat, when, lo! the wagon was loaded with solid 
slmt! Having been unable to get any provisions, the driver had 
loaded with the next best thing ammunition. This was noi 
exactly " asking for bread and receiving a stone; " but, consider- 
ing the times, it was much the same. The Norwegian shook his 
head and repeated his solemn "No more, I thank yon:" he had 
been fed enough <>n such by the rebels without having his country, 
which he was so faithfully serving, issue the same to him. 

On the morning of the 29th all were beginning to feel almost 
ravenous. Bui our lucky star was yet above the horizon, for while 
lamenting our famishing condition, one of gun 3's men found a 
bos of hard tack that had evidently fallen out of one of the 
wagons while passing by during the night. At nine o'clock we 
succeeded in drawing three days' half rations, in the morning 
the third division was sent out to destroy the railroad. They 
returned at 3 I\ 1>L . having burned about ten miles of the track. 
The troops remaining in camp threw up light works ♦ " be pre- 
pared should the enemy appear. Toward night our caissons 
joined us. 

At 6:15, on the morning of the 30th, the troops were in 
motion. Soon after crossing the railroad the advance met a few 
of the enemy. Flankers were immediately deployed ami we moved 
on again very slowly. 

At noon heavy firing was heard to the south, and it was re- 
ported Howard was engaging the enemy, who had go! wind of 
our move and had outstripped us. When our troops withdrew 
from before Atlanta, the rebels evidently thought they were fall- 
ing back beyond the Chattahoochee ami imagined the presence of 
their cavalry in our rear was the cause of it. The 20th Corps was 

sent back to the bridge, hut i ther troops were detached from 

the main army of "Sinkers." The morning the army withdrew 
from our lines, the rebel papers were full of rejoicing. "The 
Yankees have fled across the river, their army being badly demor- 
alized over the fact of our cavalry having broken their communi- 
cations. There are no more Yankee invaders threatening Atlanta!" 
And after we had proved to them their mistake and had possessed 



238 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

ourselves of the city, we were told "You'uns don't right fair. 
You'uns flink we'uns out of all our places. " 

At 1 P. M. we parked in a corn field while the infantry were 
dislodging some of the enemy who were secreted in some brush a 
short distance ahead of us. We soon moved on, but just as we 
approached the next piece of timber, there being a large field on 
either side, the enemy sent a volley among us, but luckily wounded 
but few — none of the artillery-men. There was a sweet potato 
field on each side of the road; the cooks had already found them 
and they were digging as if for dear life; but when the bullets 
whizzed by they dropped hoes, potatoes and kettles, and broke for 
the rear, affording much sport for the combatants. Our right 
section immediately took position at the edge of the woods, while 
the infantry hurriedly threw up slight works. Shortly after, the 
center section was given a position to the right in the field. They 
built slight protections against bullets and then rested. At 5 
P. M. there was some cannonading some distance to the rear, and 
works were soon thrown up facing that direction. ( )n the morn- 
ing of the 31st we added a little to the strength of our works, as 
the 14th Corps, which lay on our right, was having a lively time 
shelling the enemy. Our captain had been out prospecting and 
reported a large fort, well mounted, about a mile directly in our 
front. The enemy's trains were running briskly to and from 
Atlanta. Their whistles sounded so near it seemed we could reach 
them with shells. At 10 A. M. the 23d Corps arrived, bringing 
up the rear. Shortly after, we made a detour to the right and 
came in rear of the works the 14th Corps had held in the morn- 
ing. At twelve we came to some strong rebel works from which 
our advance had just driven the enemy. The works faced to the 
south and extended — as near as we could judge — for two or three 
miles on both sides of the road. In our front and near Mar's 
Mill on Flint Creek, they had a fort with four embrasures. At 
four we crossed the creek and took position on a hill to the right 
of the fort, and began to fortify. The railroad could be traced 
for several miles by the smoke that now arose from it. Our 
advance had struck and was burning the Macon railroad. 

At dark, just as our works were completed, orders were 
received to move forward. We advanced about two miles and 
camped. The caissons as they closed up had much difficulty. 
First there was a miry creek to cross, then a mile of dense woods 



ATI. AN I \ CAMPAIGN. 239 

to travel through amid Egyptian darkness. "Ansel" and the 
Norwegian will never forget the Lt forty rods of grape vine" thej 
brought into camp attached to their caisson. 

All the forenoon ln\i\\ cs ading was heard to the south. 

Howard was fighting two corps of the enemy. 

This month we had been under fire thirty days, and had tired 
1,862 rounds in ten days; had marched thirty-three miles in six 
days and had found the country well stripped of everything, the 
rebel forage trains having " tithed " till t law had lefl verj little 
for the few citizens to live on half an acre of corn being all that 
was allowed a family of five. They had cleared the country sev- 
eral miles on each side of the two railroads, for fifty miles south 
of the city. 

W e moved out at 7:30 on the morning of the first of Septem- 
ber, and halted shortly after in a Held near by, where we found 
large quantities of nice, luscious vine apricots, which were greatly 
enjoyed. At 2 P. M. we came in sight of the railroad, ami at four 
halted near it. Here we lay until the 3d Division could tear up 
more of the track. At five the 23d Corps passed us. A grand 
charge had Keen ordered to begin at 5 l\ M., and the 23d Corps 
was to have been on its portion of the line to have acted its part. 
Waiting half an hour after the 23d Corps had passed, we again 
advanced at 5:30. At six we came up near the enemy's works. 
They were shelling the woods freely. The artillery brigade was 
jammed up in the road so it would have been impossible to have 
moved had the enemy tried a charge. Shells flew by us and some 
struck on both sides. Finally the artillery was moved out into a 
field a few rods further on, and parked, leaving the infantry to do 
the fighting alone. The charge was made, but somewhat as a 
balky team pulls. Our loss was not great, and neither was our 
victory when compared with what it would have been had the sev- 
eral corps Keen on the ground punctually at the appointed hour. 
A> it was. many Johnnies bit the dust, hundreds were made 
prisoner-, and we had taken several cannon. 

That day we lent Battery A a team, as their horses were so 
used up they had scarcely enough to move their carriages. We 
camped where we had parked. 

At 1 A. M. all were awakened byagreat noise in the direction 
of Atlanta, [t continued till four o'clock and sounded as though 
there were several hundred guns firing at will. At first it was 



240 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

thought the 20th Corps was attacking the place, but as it contin- 
ued, we were satisfied the eneni} r were exploding their magazines. 
At six we moved out, went about a mile and a half south, crossing 
the railroad, then eastwardly nearly a mile, then bore to the south- 
west, going on the trot, sometimes through brush and trees, then 
over old by-roads until, finally, we baited in a field where the rest 
of the artillery brigade was camped. Looking across the railroad, 
toward the west, we beheld our night's camp ground just oppo- 
site us. 

Our three days' rations, drawn on the 29th, were long since 
gone, and we found so little corn to eat that all were beginning 
to feel hunger. For three days at every five minutes' halt, fires 
would be built and those who were lucky enough to have found 
some would roast an ear or more of corn. Once we passed through 
a large field of corn in which there were many nice roasting ears, 
and then we had a feast. 

But to return. We unhitched, and. having drawn three half 
rations to last four days, began to cook breakfast, but had not our 
"dundefunk" fried before orders came to hitch up, and were soon 
on the road again, traveling over the ground passed over in the 
same direction not three hours before. It was two and a half 
miles to Jonesboro, which place was reached at 10:30, where was 
found certainly the greatest number of Yankees we had ever seen 
in one body. On the road were many dead rebels — the result of 
the fighting of the day before. 

We halted in town till about 2 P. M. At the water tank 
there was an abundance of good water, and it was such a luxury 
all were loth to leave it. There were also other good things in 
town; we managed to dig about ten bushels of nice, sweet pota- 
toes. 

At two o'clock the different corps had spread out and were 
again advancing. We moved on the east side of the railroad, and 
the Army of the Tennessee on the west. After having gone 
about three miles it was discovered we had again met a fortified 
foe, and he opened lively on us with his artillery. Our guns were 
placed in position on a hill near by and replied, finally camping 
on the same hill for the night, making our coffee of water taken 
from a branch near by. It rained hard all that night and at 
times the next morning. 



ATI. \ NT \ I WII' Alt.N 241 

Iii the forenoon of the 3d, we mustered and then the pro- 
motions made in A.ugus{ were made known tuns. In the after- 
noon nearly all the guns on the line opened. We fired 170 
rounds. 

\\ c now began to debate the question whether our arniy was 
going to advance farther or fall hack and enjoy the fruits of our 
labor Atlanta. The tearing up of the track as far back as 
Rough and Heady was sufficienl answer that all would soon be 
moving to the rear. 

The 4th was quite pleasant, and so intense was the quiet it 
seemed like being in some noisy city where all business was sud- 
denly hushed. Confederates and federals alike seemed willing to 
let this Sabbath pass without having the boom of the cannon mar 
its holy calm. Toward uighl however one or two of our batteries 
-cut a salute to the enemy. 

(hi the 5th orders were received to tire as much as we pleased. 
We -cut 'lo'-] rounds to the Johnnies and this proved to be the last 
word we ever had the privilege of saying to them. 

Our caissons started for the rear early in the afternoon of the 
5th and camped near the place where we first struck the Macon 
railroad, eight miles toward Atlanta. At 3 I*. M. it began to rain 
and though it was thought we had seen the hardest rain storms, 
yet thi- afternoon we passed through the worst storm during our 
military career. We joined the caissons at midnight, and if ever 
there was a lot of Yankees whose life was nearly drenched out of 
them, we were of that nnniher. That day Emery Ml. Wilber aged 
eighteen years, enlisted for the term of three years for our Battery. 

On the 6th we drew three more rations to last four days, and 
at eleven moved out. but went only about two miles before camp- 
ing. It rained very hard all the afternoon. 

On the 7th we were to have an early start: SO B,i L2:30 the 
reveille was blown and all were soon ready to move; bul it was 
four o'clock before starting. The roads were verj muddy and 
badly cut up by the artillery and wagon train- ahead of us. We 
passed the ruins of Chapman's and Battle Stations and saw S( veral 
trains the rebels had burned to prevent their changing owners. 
The famous Rough and Ready was found to he as rough as need 
lie. all the buildings and citizens appearing to have "rough" 
boldly -tamped upon them. The ready part was not so distinct 1 
unless it meant ready to do anything evil. We marched about 



242 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

two miles further and camped, after going through fields, through 
brush and woods, cutting a road here, and rolling a large log away 
at another place, letting down fences — and really going over a 
mile out of the way rather than inarch in the road, which was at 
this point in such good order that the mule teams trotted nearly 
the whole two miles. But this was only a feature of the artillery 
brigade tactics and we had still more of it when, after camping, we 
were ordered to pick up all the loose limbs lying around on the 
ground, and were recp:iired to move the tents already put up in 
front of the park to the rear of it. We were only about half a 
mile from water. 

On the morning of the 8th the right section was sent to the 
rear to take its position in rear of the whole army as rear-guard. 
As we pulled out at 7:40, Capt. Tomlinson was on the ground, and 
as each carriage passed him, he would crossly order, "Take that 
canteen off.' 1 "Take that horse shoe off that caisson." "There's a 
strap; off with it." "See that mess-pan, take it off," etc., until the 
carriages were entirely stripped. We carried the articles in our 
hands about eighty rods, when they again took their old places on 
the carriages. 

At ten o'clock, during a hard shower, we struck the pike, then 
formed column of sections, and marched thus to the city — some 
three miles. The infantry with their banners flying and bands 
playing the national airs, the artillery marching beside their 
pieces. No one can feel the . proud upheaving of the heart we 
then felt unless he be a member of a triumphant army, as it is re- 
ceiving the surrender of what it has fought long and valiantly to 
obtain.. Our hearts were rilled to overflowing as we entered the 
first line of the enemy's works, and when we set foot within the 
city proper our hearts were too full for utterance. 

We halted awhile at the depot of the Augusta railroad, and, 
while there, strolled around to see what was the extent of our 
capture. The only objects of note near by were six sixty-four- 
pounder siege guns, and one smaller, breech-loading gun, the 
rebels had left behind. We next halted near the ruins of the 
large foundry, machine-shop and rolling-mill which the enemy 
had burned. There were also the remains of two trains loaded 
with artillery, muskets and ammunition; the enemy had run the 
trains up to the side of the rolling-mill and then burned and ex- 
ploded them. For many rods around, the ground was so completely 



ATLANTA CAMPAIGN. 243 

it covered with the pieces of the various kinds of missiles, that 
it was almost impossible to find a place large enough for the Boot 
to stand without being on some of these pieces. There were also 
missiles of all sizes from bhe Minnie ball to the one hundred- 
pounder shell ami other instruments of death from the little hand- 
grenade to the torpedo that contained 32 pounds of powder. 

\t another foundry, nearer town, were found tons of shells 
and solid shot, varying in weigh! from two to one hundred pom ids. 
We noticed, also, that al nearl\ every house a bomb-proof had 
been dug. This called forth a sort of satisfactory feeling that 

seemed to say to US, "Well done." 

We moved ahoiit a mile and a half east of the city and 
camped on the north side of the Augusta railroad, and near the 
-pot where Gen. McPherson was killed. A few feet in front of 
our park was a long grave that contained a hundred or more of 
our late enemy. 

That day Lieut. Husky arrived and Samuel A. Murphy joined 
us from hospital. 

That evening at roll-call the following orders were read to us: 



Beadquarters Dept. of the Cumberland. 

Near Jonesboro, <>a.. Sept. 6, L864. 
Orders. 

The general commanding directs that the following order- he 
published to all the troops composing the Armv of the Cumber- 
land. 



Headquarters Military Div. of the Mississippi. 
In the Field, Jonesboro, <>a. Sept. 6, 1864. 



Special Field Orders No. 66. 

I. The general commanding communicates with a feeling of 
just pride and satisfaction the following order id' the President of 

the Tinted Stato. and the tele-ram of Lieut, Gen. l\ S. Grant on 
hearing of the capture of Atlanta. 

( 1st ) Bxecui ive Mansion. 

Washington D. C, Sept. 3, L864. 

The national thanks are tendered by the president to Maj. 
Gen. W. T. Sherman and the gallant officers and soldiers of Ins 
command before Atlanta, for the distinguished ability, courage 
and perseverance displayed in the campaign in Georgia, which 
under divine favor has resulted in the capture of the Citj of 



244 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

Atlanta. The marches, battles, sieges and other military oper- 
ations that have signalized the campaign must render it famous 
in the annals of war, and have entitled those who have partici- 
pated therein to the applause of the nation. 
(Signed) Abraham Lincoln, 

President of the United States. 

2nd. Executive Mansion. 

Washington D. C, Sept. 3, 1864. 
Ordered. 

Second. That on Wednesday, the 7th day of September, 
commencing at the hour of 12 o'clock M. there shall be fired a 
salute of one hundred (100) guns at the Arsenal at Washington 
and at New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, 
New Port, Ky., St. Louis, New Orleans, Mobile, Pensacola, Hilton 
Head, and Newbern, or the day after the receipt of this order, for 
the brilliant achievements of the army under the command of Maj. 
Gen. W. T. Sherman in the State of Georgia, and the capture of 
Atlanta. The Secretary of W T ar will issue directions for the exe- 
cution of this order. 

( Signed ) Abraham Lincoln, 

President of the United States. 

(3rd) Citv Point, Va. 

Sept. 4th, P. M. 1864. 
Maj. Gen. Sherman: 

I have just received your dispatch an- 
nouncing the capture of Atlanta. In honor of your great victory 
I have ordered a salute to be fired with shotted guns from every 
battery bearing upon the enemy. The salute will be fired within 
an hour, amidst great rejoicing. 

(Signed) U. S. Grant, 

Lieut. General. 

II All the corps, regiments and batteries, composing the 
army may without further orders inscribe "Atlanta" on their 
"colors." 

By command of Maj. Gen. W. T. Sherman. 
(Signed) " L. M. Dayton, A. D. C. 

By command of Maj. Gen. Geo. H. Thomas. 

Henry Stone, Capt. & A. A. G. 
Maj. Gen. D. S. Stanley, 

Commanding 4th A. C. 
Lieut. D. Immel, A. A. A. G. 
Artillery Brigade, 4th A. C. 

Thus closed the Atlanta Campaign, but as our "colors" were 
worn out, we did not inscribe "Atlanta" on them. 



PART V. 

Our 'Hefty' Canppaigr?. . 



<'H.\rn-:i{ xxvu. 



W'k now enter upon what proved to be our "Hefty" campaign; 
though at its incipiency we knew not but what it would be 
fraught with as great dangers as any other portiou of our military 
career. Being now in the bear! of the enemy's country, sur- 
rounded on all sides by the foe — though of course in small num- 
bers in many parts, yet nevertheless our sworn enemies, who would 
unhesitatingly have sent a bullet through us had opportunity been 
given them — we looked for more hard fighting than we had yet 
seen. A move was expected in some direction within a few days. 
It was understood that we should have thirty days for rest, and 
then must resume the march. We doubted not our Battery would 
he booked for the next ■•forward:" for since we had been given the 
chance to go to the rear, and had not accepted it, we heard very 
little more about being relieved. Whichever direction we should 
take, we doubted not we should not stop till reaching a point 
whence communication could be held with the other side. We 
looked for a move on Augusta or Montgomery, which one. we did 
not know, but one of the two was thought certain. 

While discussing the prospects of a forward move, the still- 
ness that surrounded us made us quite forget that war was abroad 
in the land, and even our guns, standing there in plain view. 
scarcely recalled the fact. We seemed to be in a sweet dream m 
which it appeared we were off in some back woods country on a 
pleasure trip, and these, our tents, the necessary concomitants of 
the trip. So sweet was the dream that all dreaded to be awakened 
from it. lest they should find the realities of our surroundings 
little pleasanter than though still pressing the enemy. 

On the ( .)th of September, Sergt. Schnasse, Franck, Westen- 
dorf, and Hoffer, returned from hospital. 

• apt. Bridges, our worthy corps chief of artillery, com bided, 
that, as he had SO many batteries under his paternal care, he 
would camp them SO near together as to have the whole under hi- 



248 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

eye at once. Accordingly he set his planning machinery at work 
to devise a form of camp that should bring us within a small com- 
pass. No better form presented itself than to have us in line. 
Next, he must find suitable grounds. He found such, that by a 
few days 1 grubbing, would give plenty of room. This was on the 
south side of, and adjoining, the Augusta Railroad and about a 
mile from the heart of the city. 

On the 12th a detail of three men, accompanied by one or more 
commissioned officers, from each battery, was on the ground to 
stake out the several camps. By night they had it partly done. 
We sent out two teams for forage in the morning, expecting them 
to be gone two days, but at night they returned with good loads. 

On the 13th the artillery brigade moved to their new camp. 
We were given the place nearest the railroad. By night we had 
the form of our camp well staked out. Our guns were in the 
center, Nos. 1 and 2 squads on the right or south side and Nos. 3 
and 4, on the north. The horses were picketed on either side of 
the park, and between the guns and our tents. The officers' and 
staffs* (orderly, quartermaster sergeant and bugler) tents were 
about ten rods to the rear — or nearer town. We were to assemble 
at roll-calls just in rear of the caissons. In time we built splendid 
shades over our tents covering them with branches of trees, and 
hanging the sides with pine boughs. We also built good shades 
for our horses. 

In the afternoon our horses were inspected by Capt. Bridges 
to see how many were unfit for service. He picked out twenty- 
six which he condemned. 

Our camp in good order we began to enjoy our quiet camp 
life. During the day we had very little to do, as about the only 
work in preparing for the coming move devolved upon the black- 
smiths, wheelwright and harness maker. We had only six 
guards a day so there was very little guard duty to do. During 
the day we would visit town, the late battle fields, the rebel works, 
or at camp we would enjoy ourselves over various games, or work 
at our old trade — shell work. At night we would, if pleasant 
weather, congregate at some level spot of ground where it was not 
too dusty, and while away the hours in "stag 11 and " Juba" dances, 
singing and yarn spinning. 

During our thirty days rest, it was decided that one man out 
of twenty-five could go home, and orders were issued from 



nil! " HKI'TY " CAMPAIGN. 2 I' 1 

military division headquarters to that effect. Our Batterj was en- 
titled to full four men and doubtful one there being but seventy- 
six of our own, and twenty-five detailed men, present on the first 
of the month. There were many applicants for furloughs, and 
quite a Dumber had good reasons for wishing to go home. It was 
decided we should draw lots three of the furloughs to be for our 
men, and one for the detailed. On the L 5th about twenty drew 
lots, ami Sergt. Short, of gun 2, Newton, the company clerk, and 
Martin, of gun 1. were the luckj ones of our men, and Van 
Slycke among the detailed. At night the captain was informed 
he could give one more furlough, and Cor]!. Lissenden, of gun 3, 
and Flint, <»f gun 1. drew for it Flint being successful. The 
proper applications were immediately sent in. and in due time 
were returned approved. 

On the 16th we turned over our two extra caissons. That after- 
noon some tire near the ruins of the iron foundry reached some 
unexploded shells and soon caused them to explode. The pieces 
were sent flying many rods in all directions. Luckily no one was 
hurt. 

At dark, on the 17th. there was a very cracked assembly 
blown, and as it was so unusual, all rushed out to see what was 
the matter. The call sounded as though there was an order of 
great moment to he read. Sick. hale, guards off duty, uon-coni- 
batants, "dog-robbers" — one and all rushed out to learn the good 
new-. All in line and standing almost on tiptoe, so eager were 
all to hear what was coming, they waited. The captain finally 
spoke: "The buglers silver mouthpiece has been stolen." and he 
like his predecessor, could not now "get a lip." We pitied him: 
hut that was not all. We were next told that some one had it. 
and that all were to stand where we were until the mouthpiece 
was produced, or the theft was acknowledged! Our pity ebbed. 
No one said: "I am he:" so after standing there some time, we 
were told that thereafter there would he four roll-calls per day. 
Before this there had been two. We were then ri jjd.it -faced and 
allowed to go to our tents. ••Here's your mouthpiece." was the 
last heard of the affair, hut the article was never found. 

<)n the 19th Lieut. Murphy was detailed to a command in 
Bridges' battery and never returned to duty in ours. 

The weather was now quite warm and the many half-buried 
rebels, near the only well in the vicinity, created such a stench that 



250 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

many were sickened when going after water. In many cases 
these bodies had become entirely uncovered. 

After the left section guns were turned over, there was noth- 
ing for the ''lions' 1 to do, save to stand guard once in seven or 
eight days; so, whenever there was a detail to headquarters of the 
artillery brigade called for out of our Battery, these extra "nons ,r 
were selected. On the 19th Corp. Thompson, of Squad 5, and 
Harter, of Squad 6, were detailed to take charge of the guards at 
artillery brigade headquarters. 

The brigade had received a large stock of onions, of which 
we received one barrel, and were truly thankful therefor. 

On the 24th Dr. Brown (big medicine) left us for a more ele- 
vated position — a department in the hospital on Lookout Moun- 
tain. The same day Battery M, 1st Ohio, started for home, but 
only got as far as the depot, there being no transportation for 
them. 

We now received the almost certain information that we 
were to be relieved at the front. Rumor had it that we were to 
go to Nashville. We did not like the place, but it would take us 
that much nearer home. Notwithstanding we were having a 
good rest, we still felt that we had been at the front about our 
share of the time, and were willing to go to the rear and let the 
"yearlings 11 have a taste of the realities of war. So. with the 
discussion of this subject and politics, we managed to keep con- 
siderable life in camp. If our state would not allow us to vote at 
the coming elections, we had the satisfaction of feeling we could 
talk as much as we pleased. 

There was one other subject to which we paid some heed, as 
its results might affect our bread-basket, even if it should not call 
us to the field again, and that was the report that Hood was 
crossing the river, below Sand Town, and was trying to cut our 
communications. The 2d Division breaking camp the next day^ 
and marching toward the rear, confirmed our belief that the report 
had some foundation. 

On the 26th Gen. Stanley inspected the artillery brigade. The 
same day orders were received to prepare to go to the rear — to go 
as far as Chattanooga, and perhaps to Nashville. We turned over 
seventy-eight of our horses, retaining only such as were necessary 
to mount the officers and the non-commissioned staff. 



OUB •• 1IK1TV ** CAMPAIGN. 25] 

On the 28th Corps. Brumfield, Thompson and Harter returned 
to the Battery. Thai day Lewis II. Miller, aged twenty-two years, 
enlisted at Chicago, Illinois, for one year, in our Battery. 

On the 30th orders were received to leave at seven o'clock that 
evening; hut as there was no likelihood of getting transportation 
for some time, we still remained at camp. 

Thus ended the mouth of September. We had marched 
forty-nine miles in seven days; had been engaged in shelling the 
enemy two days, and had sent them 415 rounds. 

The citizens, who were yet in Atlanta, were in high glee over 
the prospects of its evacuation by our army and its re-occupation 
by theirs. Gen. Sherman had sent all who (hose to go south of 
our lines, while the others he was sending north as fast as trans- 
portation could he furnished them. In a general order, or circular. 
he had stated his reasons for removing all citizens from the city. 
It was to be used as a military post, and nothing but what 
belonged to the army was wanted there. In his spicy correspond- 
ence with Gen. Hood he had vindicated himself for firing upon the 
city while we lay before it, and for sending off the populace since 
he possessed it. Those citizens who had chosen to be sent north 
did so because they thought they would fare better than if they 
went farther into Dixie, for they thought our armies would imme- 
diately press forward and in a few months they would have to 
move again. But where could they go to the next time? We 
were already so far into the heart of their country they had 
warned us to take in our long range guns or we should kill our 
own men on the other side: and the next forward of ours could 
not fail to again cut their confederacy in twain as had the opening 
of the Mississippi. Hut when they saw our troops moving to the 
rear — when they were refused transportation, they began to believe 
what they had been told, that the rebel army was only drawing us 
on the more easily to annihilate us. Many had professed their 
loyalty, but. as soon as they thought the rebels were going to 
return, they forgot it. Such was the state of affairs at Atlanta at 
the close of September. 

At roll-call on the night of the 1st of October, the order was 
read for no more applications for furlough to he sent in. and all 
those who had received furloughs and had not yet got outside the 
department, were to he sent back to their commands. Tin- pre- 
vented our men from going home, as they had not yet stalled. 



252 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

there having been no chance to get transportation since their 
furloughs had been received. This day Hans Johnson was dis- 
charged at Nashville. 

On the 2d orders came for us to leave for the rear on the next 
morning, so, by three o'clock A. M., of the 3d, everything was 
ready to move. We borrowed horses, hauled our guns to the depot, 
and thought surely nothing could now prevent our going. But 
upon reaching the depot with our last baggage, word came that 
the bridge across the Etowah had been washed away, and we 
should not be able to go for nearly a week. We chose camp 
ground about half a mile east of the depot and soon had up good 
shebangs. Our camp was near a detachment from the 32d Indiana 
and 2d Massachusetts Infantry. 

That day George Little, aged twenty-one; William Little v 
aged eighteen; Norman Chapman, aged eighteen, and James D. 
Miller, aged seventeen; all of Bloom, Illinois, enlisted for our 
Battery for the term of one year. 

On the 5th orders were received to send our horses to the 
country to graze, but they were soon after countermanded. In the 
afternoon we got drivers and horses from Battery D, 1st Illinois, 
to move our guns about two miles southwest from the depot to 
some rebel forts. Our caissons were left about half way to town. 
We sent no guards with the caissons, and those who had hauled 
them out there for us were kind enough to examine the chests 
before they left them. When we next looked into the chests they 
were found to be minus several gold pens, soldiers housewives, 
suits of new clothing, books, and what was prized most of all, 
likenesses of our friends at home. Some things they did not care 
to take had been destroyed, and the remains were found lying 
around upon the ground. The captain said he could not pity us as 
we had kept them in the chests contrary to orders; but we felt 
their loss notwithstanding all that. 

We were now under command of Maj. Houghteling, chief 
of artillery of the 14th Corps. We put up good shanties, 
boards being abundant, and were soon enjoying ourselves as 
well as" any soldiers could under the circumstances. The 
drivers were back with the caissons where the captain made his 
headquarters. The fort in which our guns were placed bore proofs 
of having received the close attention of one of our batteries 
during the late siege. Eighteen shells had struck in the rear 



OUB " IIKITY "* CAMPAIGN. 253 

of the fort, all of them having passed through three embrasures 
not two feel square. 

One citizen told us that one eight, when we were shelling the 
city, lie had retired before we commenced firing, bui was unable to 
sleep on account of the number of shells that were constantly 
exploding near his house. He arose and walked out on his veranda 
which he paced until he became tired; he said that each shell, as 
it approached, appeared to he coming directly tor his house, hut 
that they seemed to shun it as they ueared. He said he even 
thought it was because he was a union man. (He was a member of 
a secret Union League in the city, and had cared for several of our 
wounded whom he had got permission In take from the rebel 
hospital. ) When he became tired of walking his heat, he went 
into his parlor and sat down in front of his tire-place, hut he could 
not sit still, so he started for his heat again, hut had barely closed 
the door before a shell entered the house, struck the floor in such 
a place that it must have cut him in two had he vet been in his 
seat, and exploded, the pieces making many holes through the 
walls as they left the house. This gentleman was one of the 
leading merchants of the city. He also said that a co-leaguer of 
his had kept count of the number of shells that struck near his 
house that night and that there were over eight hundred! 

On the north and west sides of town and extending to the 
heart of the city, it was hard to find a house that had not from 
one to ten shell holes in it. In many places were the ruins of 
houses the shells had set fire to. Nearly every house had in its 
dooryard what we styled Bomb-holes. They were dug about five 
feet deep and covered with, earth about three feet, an opening or 
door heing left on the lee side. Into these homh-proofs the citi- 
zens would go as soon as the shelling began, and would remain 
there until we had ceased firing. Some had tried cellars, hut they 
appeared to afford very little protection, as a shell exploding in 
one would be very apt to injure some of the occupants. 

Many of our shells had performed queer antics. In one part 
of the city was a shell lying in a large hole it had made in a 
chimney, its point just protruding outside the brick. It had 
passed through one side of the chimney and only had force enough 
to make an opening through the other side where it quietly lay. 
In another place a -hell had just force enough to go through the 
side of the roof of a porch in front of a -tore, and there it stopped, 



254 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

its butt being in plain sight to passers by. The principal engine 
house was completely riddled. A thirty-pounder shell had struck 
one of the rails of the railroad track near hj and cut the rail in 
two, throwing the shorter piece several feet away. In all parts of 
the city were found traces of the destruction the shells had 
worked; but if the city had suffered this far, what term can be 
applied to its final condition when our forces evacuated it. 

Fortifying was going on rapidly. The rebel works were to 
be leveled, and a strong line of forts was to be built nearer the 
city — so near that many of them were inside the city limits. 
These forts were lettered from the right, Fort A being almost due 
west from the city. One fort was to mount thirty-six guns. All 
houses that chanced to stand where these works were to be erected 
were torn down. This destroyed many of the most beautiful resi- 
dences of the city, as the hills, or rises of ground, that had been 
chosen for the spot on which to erect the most costly buildings, 
were just the places for forts. One very large and strong fort was 
built around the court house. The forts and works once com- 
pleted, Atlanta would really be the Gate City of the South. 

The Army of the Tennessee being shipped to the rear by rail, 
our construction corps began tearing up the track to Rough-and- 
Ready (which had been the scene of the recent exchange of pris- 
oners between Sherman and Hood) and hauling the iron to the 
rear to repair the road Hood had been and was destroying. At 
the engine and machine shops repairs were going on as rapidly as 
possible, considerable machinery having been brought there from 
Chattanooga before Hood made the break. Everything indicated 
that Atlanta was to be made the strongest and best military post 
on the whole frontier. When the citizens saw this they again 
became loyal, and clamored for transportation to the rear. 

It w T as soon discovered that in the 14th Corps a soldier could 
buy anything he needed that they had at the commissary, if he 
got his officer to certify that he really needed it. We were soon 
enjoying the privilege, as our rations were now cut down; but 
soon they ran so low at the commissary that they would not sell 
except to commissioned officers. We took an order signed by our 
captain in which it was stated that the articles wanted were for 
us. "We cannot issue any more on such orders; but if you will 
bring one stating it is for your officers 1 personal use, we will sell 
on that.' 1 Of course we did not feel like asking our officers to 



OUR " IIKFTY '" CAMPAIGN. 255 

write a falsehood and neither did we choose to ask them to sign 

away all their rights to rations as they once did at Chattai ga; 

-.1 recourse must be had to another expedient. There were many 
fragments of regiments and companies arriving daily, and no one 
at the commissary's knew who arrived and who did not. An order 
of this description would always bring anything we wanted: 

Atlanta. Ga., Oct. L864. 
Commissary of Subsistence or Post Quartermaster: 

Please sell to the bearer, a member of 
my company. 3 lbs. coffee. "> 11 is. sugjir, 2 His. soap, 1 ham, 3 His. 
desiccated potatoes, and 10 lbs. beans. For my personal use. 

John Quimby, 
Nt Lieut. Com'd'g Detach. Co. B. llth X. Y. Vol. Infty. 
Being always careful to choose a name probably not in the 
service and a regiment that was never in the department. The 
next thing after the order was written was to disguise our being 
artillery-men. For this purpose we kept a suit of infantry cloth- 
ing on hand, for which we had traded some of our artillery gar- 
ments. Should they by chance refuse to sell on the order we 
would go off in high dudgeon, with threats to report at head- 
quarters, and. after writing an order to suit them, would appear 
again and ask if that one would do. ••Certainly, certainly. 1 hope 
your lieutenant took no offense; hut you see we have to he so 
careful; each order has to he worded just so." "Well, the lieu- 
tenant was a little angry at first, hut then, you see he has not been 
out long, ami don't understand all your hooks and crooks." That 
was always satisfactory. We could get all the commissary, or 
anything else wanted, if it was thereto he had. Some may pro- 
nounce this stealing, hut we argued after the manner the negro 
did when he took one of his master's pigs for his own use: It was 
Uncle Sam's: we were Uncle Sam's, so it was only giving Uncle 
Sam's to Uncle Sam's, and in that there certainly could he no 
harm. 

\\ henever trains ran through and brought in stores, we could 
get all the hard tack we wished at the depot, the guards telling as 
to help ourselves. ( Occasionally a box of hard tack, a chest of des- 
iccated potatoes or cakes of desiccated vegetables, would find its 
way into camp. We lived like lords! In a basement in town the 
rebs had left a large quantity of rice. This we freely helped our- 
selves to. It was considerably worm-eaten: hut we easily washed 



256 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

out the spoiled grains. We always chose to get what we needed 
honestly, but if that way failed, and it was still to be had, we gen- 
erally got it — soldiers will do so. For extra meat we generally 
bought livers, hearts, or beeves 1 heads at the butchers 1 . 

On the 8th there were fears entertained of an attack, and con- 
siderable more artillery was sent to the lines. We drew two more 
Rodmans and manned them from the men at the caissons. They 
were put in position about a quarter of a mile east of our other 
guns. No rebels appeared. 

About 8 P. M. on the 9th, the Signal Corps sent the dispatch 
to the post: "Grant is in Richmond! The city is occupied by 
federal soldiers!! 11 In a few minutes the bulletin boards had it 
displayed in large letters. The cheering was kept up till a late 
hour. Bands in all directions were playing our national airs. Our 
Norwegian had retired when the news was received, but two or 
three made him get up and give three grunts; he declared he 
would not cheer till his headquarters had received official notice to 
that effect. We finally settled down to our bunks to dream of 
home; but most of our dreaming was with eyes wide open. 

Toward noon of the next day it began to be hinted that Mr. 
H. U. M. Bug had again had hold of the wires, and, by night, all 
were firmly convinced such was the fact. In time it was learned 
that the sell had started at Allatoona. 

On the 11th forage trains began to be sent out to the south- 
east and east, and always returned heavily laden with the choicest 
the country afforded, and, as we always sent Bill's team, and some- 
times two or three teams, we fared like princes. Huge yams, pails 
of honey, apples, sweet potatoes, fat beeves and porkers, onions — 
everything good, for the country was rich in forage. Never, 
while soldiers, did we fare so sumptuously as while lying at At- 
lanta. 

Harding and Rhodes returned from hospital on the 17th. 
For some time preparations had been going on in town to 
start a theatre. On the 21st the doors were thrown open at 
"Hayden's Negro Sale Rooms 11 — that had been. Johnny Ham- 
mond was soon the leading star, and quite an audience he at- 
tracted. The house was always crowded. The band of the 33d 
Massachusetts furnished the music. But we must not neglect to 
state that there was also one other building which was crowded 
every night in the week. It was a church that stood near the court 



OUR " HKFTY " CAMPAIGN. 251 

house. It was often not large enough to accommodate half those 
wanting admission, and then another Large church standing near 
would be opened. 

On the 29th through trains from Chattanooga arrived, the 
break Hood had occasioned having been repaired. The sick were 
immediately shipped t<> the rear. Next the machinery, just put 
up. was taken down and shipped; also all the extra artillery, of 
which there were over a hundred pieces, including captured guns 
and worn-out guns turned over by our batteries. There were 
some fifteen sixt y-four pounder old model l\ S. siege guns all 
b'ut five of which had been dug up where the rebels had buried 
them. These guns were, however, not sent to the rear, but were 
allowed to fall into the rebels 1 hands again after Gen. Sherman 
had burned the city. The rebels seemed always fond of burying 
such articles as they did not wish us to become possessed of. 
At Chattanooga our forces dug up several cannon in their grave- 
yard. They were buried as though they were men. a head hoard, 
properly numbered, being placed at the head of the grave. But 
at Atlanta there was no need of examining the two acres of 
graves, for the whole lot had sunk so — in many cases six or seven 
graves havingsunk together as one as to leave no doubt that only 
bona tide bodies had been interred there. 

As soon as the first through trains came in we began to pre- 
pare to leave, for we were to he shipped as soon as empty flats could 
he had. there being standing orders to that effect. We turned 
over the two new guns on the 29th. Our own guns were to be 
taken hack to Resaca, there to be unloaded, the men proceeding to 
Chattanooga and perhaps to Nashville. That afternoon a long 
forage train returned. It had been gone three days and it had 
been reported it was captured. The first day out it had met some 
of the rebels and had sent back for reinforcements. All obstacles 
overcome, it moved on. going twenty-five miles from Atlanta. It 
had met with complete success, all the wagons being loaded as full 

as they could lie. We were represented by a do/ell liiell wlio li;nl 

done their share of bumming in a manner and with success 
entirely to the satisfaction of us at camp. Bill's wagon and ('apt. 
Batterson's famous cart were full of the choicest. It was our last 
and best forage expedition while before or in Atlanta. From the 

proceeds id' that trip we had many g 1 meals after getting back 

to where there was nothing hut starvation to he had. But if our 



258 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

men and the infantry had fared so well, the cavalry, that was along as 
scouts, did not. The rebels killed several of them and hung their 
bodies to trees in conspicuous places where the main force would 
be sure to see them as they returned. They pinned a slip of paper 
on their clothes on which was written " Yankee Vandals. 1 ' 



chaitki; XXVIII. 



Toward night, on the -list of October, word was received that 
a train would he empty during the night for us to load on. The 
whole Battery was gathered together at the caisson-, except the 
battery wagon, forge and harness, which were at the depot where 
they were first hauled and where there hud been live or six men to 
guard them all the time. After dark we hauled everything to the 
depot. About midnight the cars were switched in for us. and by 
3 A. M. of the 1st of November we were all ready to hid adieu to 
Atlanta. But it did seem that the city was loth to part with 
U-. lor it was 1.2:30 P. M. before the train began to move. Till 
about 3 P. M. the weather was delightful, hut then it turned cold, 
clouded up and soon was raining quite hard. We were on flats 
and for shelter spread the tarpaulins over the guns and main of 
us crawled under them. Hut the tarpaulins were old and worn, 
and being spread out so flat they shed very little rain, and those 
under them were soon nearly as wet as though they had staid out 
and weathered it. as several did. We reached Marietta at four 
o'clock. Here it seemed we were to he forever blockaded by trains. 
In military parlance, a train consisted of sections. In our train 
there were ten sections, and. at Marietta, was met a down train 
with twelve sections. The side-track was only Long enough to al- 
low two sections to "saw-off" at a time, and as it was several hours 
before the last section was up, no sectiou could proceed till all had 
Closed up. as there was no chance to pass after leaving the station 

for several miles; "sawing 11 was not through till noon of the 2d, 
and then the section in front of as, ran <>tT the track near the 
switch, which delayed us an hour longer. 

It rained hard all night of the 1st; many of us soaked much 
and slept little under our tarpaulins. Some were lucky enough to 
find room in a large brick house near by, which was well crowded 
with infantry. There they kept (\v\ hut shook with cold, a- there 



260 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

was scarcely any wood to be had and then among so many one 
could scarcely get a smell at the small fire in the lire-place. On 
the morning of the 2d we made coffee and boiled beef where best 
we could. It rained so hard as to make it almost impossible to 
keep a fire out doors. Some of the lucky ones succeeded in getting 
something in town to warm the inner man, even if there was no 
fire to keep warm the outer. The spirits of those few gradually 
rose till they began to re-fight their battles. Not having any side 
weapons they pitched in with their fists and, accordingly, two or 
three of them came out of the fray with bloody noses. 

At 12:30 P. M. of the 2d, the engine again began to puff and 
the train started forward. We passed Resaca at 8 P. M., not 
stopping to unload our guns as had been intended. Here we 
passed several more down trains, all heavily loaded with provisions. 
About dark we had passed Kingston, where we met the 14th Corps 
en-route for Atlanta. They told us they had chased Hood into 
Alabama and that the 4th and 23d Corps were left to watch his 
movements. 

We reached Tilton at daylight on the 3d. Here we were 
again delayed some time in "sawing" by another train of several 
sections. As we lay alongside we were not slow in supplying our- 
selves with such eatables as we needed. Several boxes of hard 
tack and one whole chest of bacon changed hands notwithstanding 
the threats and bayonet thrusts of the men who were guarding 
the trains. 

At 8:30 we reached Dalton. How changed was the place 
since we first saw it ! Then it wore a look of desolation and mis- 
ery; now it bore the marks of destruction. The rebels had burned 
everything they thought could be of service to us when we again 
became masters there. Every track — the main road and side- 
tracks — was torn up and burned. The whole length of the road 
they had made their work most complete. At places, where there 
were deep cuts, they had filled them up as full as they had time to 
fill them, with huge rocks, trees, brush, earth — everything avail- 
able. Doubtless had they succeeded at Allatoona it would have 
taken us a month to remove the obstructions they would have filled 
that cut with; but brave Gen. Corse held it against all opposition 
and, holding that, saved us the rebuilding of many miles of rail- 
road. The whole length of the road was strewn with wrecks of 
engines and cars. At some places were three or four trains, in one 



OUB "11K.ITV CAMPAIGN. 261 

continuous string, burned. There were eight or nine engines that 
had been thrown from the track since Hood had passed. Thej 
were merely tipped over on their side and another engine put in 
their place at the heads of the trains. 

Passing through the tunnel after leaving Dalton all wondered 
why they had nut attempted to destroy that, as its destruction 
would certainly have obstructed the road for months. Their rea- 
sons may have been a recollection of their defeat at A.llatoona, and 
also that our trains could be sent around by Cleveland, that road 
having been repaired early in the campaign. 

At 3 1'. M. the train slacked its speed! What a slack it was! 
The most of tin- way. or at every little grade, we could and did 
walk faster than the train moved, and how could it run slower? 
It was approaching the suburbs of Chattanooga our future home. 
We were switched off <>n a side-track beside a platform and told 
to unload as soon as possible as the cars were needed to ship troops 
to Huntsville and Nashville, as it was now thought that Hood 
would attempt the capture of the latter place. The train was 
unloaded in less than half an hour and the cars taken away. We 

then started out to take a view of the city and to get - thing 

good to eat. At t>\r\-y step after leaving the platform one would 
sink nearly to his knees in mud. Go when- we would there was 
nothing but mud. It. was soon found that prices hail improved 
very much since we left here nearly a year before. Besides the 
high prices for what they had to sell, there was very little to buy, 
as the great numbers of troops daily passing through kept the sut- 
ler-" shebangs well drained of everything wanted. The new men 
coming in from home with their pockets filled with greenbacks — 
the proceeds of their late enlistment were ready to buy anything 
and everything a sutler might have that could be eaten by man. 
no mattei- what the cost, and this kept the prices so high that a 
poor doc.' from the front was rarely able ♦<> buy enough for a good 
meal. 

The night was extremely cold, and we felt it the more a- our 
clothes were all wet and wood could not he had to build til'- to 
dry them. We slept in a new machine shop that was then being 
built. 

Ahout -t I'. M. of the 1th. the Battery moved to fort McAloon 
which st I just outside the town to the east ami on a high por- 
tion of the hank of the Tennessee River. This tort was an old 



262 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

rebel work and was calculated to command the river for a mile 
above. Our guns were hauled out by mule teams that were 
detailed for the purpose from one of the corrals. 

Here on the bank of the river it was dreary enough that day 
and for many more. That night we had to sleep on the ground 
with wet blankets for bedding, the weather cold and freezing hard, 
the wind blowing almost a gale from the north and having unob- 
structed sweep over our hill, the works being in so dilapidated a 
condition (they never having been half completed) that they 
afforded us no protection from the wind. There was a long stable 
or shed near us; but it was so full of holes as to be worse than 
nothing. There was no wood to be had that night and it was 
with difficulty we found enough to build fire sufficient to boil a 
kettle of that indispensable — coffee. The greater number of our 
detailed men went to their commands and there had good warm 
lodgings. Those from the 3d Wisconsin Battery formally 
returned to that command next day. 

On the 5th Capt. Colvin called to see us and found us still 
shivering in the cold. We heartily wished the rear to which we 
had come was in a somewhat warmer place and we back at the 
front. Our captain immediately set out to get lumber for us to 
build shanties with. There w T ere three or four steam saw-mills in 
sight, but there was not a foot of lumber to be had at any of 
them. ''They already had orders for many thousand feet more 
than they had on hand, but if we would wait a month they could 
supply us. 11 This was encouraging! We thought we would not 
wait. But where or in what way could we better ourselves? The 
heavy timber toward Mission Ridge and even to its summit had 
been cut and used during our absence. On the north side of the 
river Ave should have to go two or three miles before getting any- 
thing that could be used to make shanties of. At one of the mills 
they agreed to saw lumber for us if we would bring them logs; so 
some were in favor of going up the river several miles, making a . 
raft of pine logs and floating it down to the mill. But that would 
take perhaps weeks. On the whole, it was concluded that we 
would borrow what lumber we could at the mills (for they had 
large piles on hand which they were selling to sutlers and citi- 
zens) and supply the deficiency with logs and poles that we would 
get on the north side of the river — the captain agreeing to get 
three or four teams to haul for us. We still had Bill's team and 



OUR "' UK! -TV " I \MI' \i<;.\. 263 

••('apt. BattersonV 1 cart. With the former we could haul enough 
wood to burn, while the latter could bring the ration- from the 
commissary, and then, if we could get a detail of three or four 
team- we should soon have enough of various material to build 
our shanties of . We would, to economize time, haul logs during 
the day from the woods, and carry lumber at uight from the mills. 

We set to work immediately. Our camp was staked out into 
streets and alleys -a lot being 12x16 feet and on which a shanty 
10x12 feet was to be built. A shanty of that size was calculated 
to be large enough for four men, and we were accordingly divided 
off into fours. Building progressed as rapidly as it could under 
the snatch-grab way in which it had to be done. It rained quite 
hard nearly every day for a week; hut this only made us work the 
livelier whenever we could get teams to haul for us. Our shanties 
up and covered, the uext thing was to get material to build fire- 
places of . That was really hard to be found. We would go out 
with Batterson's cart and pick up a whole brick here, a half a one 
there and a Hat stone somewhere else, until we finally found 
material enough to raise the chimneys above the roofs of our 
shanties. By the end of two weeks we were as comfortably 
housed as any of the troops at Chattanooga, although our camp 
must have greatly resembled Joseph's coat for variety, so many 
different kinds of material being employed in building the shanties 
and chimneys. There was but one thing in which we lacked and 
that was ration-. We had supposed that once at the rear we 
should have all we needed to eat. hut we found it not so, and soon 
wished ourselves back at the front. But the front, where was it? 
No one knew. In truth it was anywhere between Nashville and 
Atlanta. 

On the 1th we signed the rolls for ten months' pay. Hutchins 
went to the hospital and never returned to the Battery. 

On the 11th the Batter} was to be inspected by Gen. Brannan. 
Everything was put in readiness to make him think as highly of 
u- a- possible, for we knew something of his opinion of us by an 
expression he once made during the campaign in reference to our 
carrying grain and blankets on our caissons: "D nthat battery; 
thej fight well, hut they give me more trouble than any other 
battery I have." Ami to cause him to look more favorably upon 
ii- and to prove that we wished to please him. we went SO far as 
for six of our uumber to appear with their -hoes blacked when 



264 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

called upon to "fall in." We ''fell in 1 ' twice; but no general 
appeared, save "General Dyson 1 ' of our Battery; and thus all our 
trouble was for nothing. 

On the 12th Wilber arrived and was assigned to gun 4. Our 
pay-rolls were returned with the notice that we could not receive 
ten months 1 pay that time, so Ave re-signed them for eight months. 

In the afternoon of the 14th Gen. Brannan arrived, and, 
though he took us somewhat by surprise, and found us not as well 
prepared to meet him as on the appointed time; yet he appeared 
pleased with us and said we had the best quarters he had ever seen. 

Our pay-rolls were again returned to us as having been im- 
properly signed, so on the 15th we corrected them and received 
eight months 1 pay. 

Now that we were at the rear those who had received fur- 
loughs, at Atlanta, prepared to go home. Having received their 
pay, on the 16th Sergt. Short, Corp. Cogswell and Private Flint 
left us on a thirty day visit to their friends. Lieut. Burton hav- 
ing received a leave of absence accompanied them. As he was 
going to Chicago, where so many of our friends lived, we sent a 
considerable sum in greenbacks with him. The same day our 
colored blacksmith, Shadrach, left us for his home in Middle 
Tennessee. 

While at Shelbyville and other places, a great quantity of our 
surplus rations had been sold and the proceeds put in the "com- 
pany fund. 11 This fund was supposed to have been materially 
increased by the addition of commutation money, we should have 
received for the rations allowed us, but, not drawn during the 
siege of Chattanooga and the Knoxville campaign. Now that our 
pay had been increased, an order was issued to pay no more for 
undrawn rations, and many were now a little inquisitive to know 
about how much of a fund was on hand. Concluding we should 
probably have no further need of a fund the large amount was. on 
the 17th, distributed among us. It amounted to the enormous 
sum of two dollars and sixty-five cents to the man. This gave us 
something to talk about when there was nothing else to do. 

To busy ourselves, after being comfortably fitted up inside 
our shanties, most of us began shell work again. We were now 
where these little specimens of our handicraft could be sent to our 
friends without danger of their being captured by train burners. 
Each shebang was soon a jewelry manufactory. When shells 



mi; •' | U-: I TV '" CAMPAIGN. 265 

began to run Low a new material was found in which to work, that 
was quite as easily fashioned as were mussel shells, and from 
which could be produced articles quite as beautiful. At a fort 
then building near the depot could be had all the Tennessee mar- 
ble we wished. The moat was sunt three or four feel deep in the 
marble and thus gave us a choice of several different qualities and 
colors. Of this we made picture frames, little fane} boxes, pipes, 
etc., etc. Some work was also going on in laurel, making pipes, 
etc. We also drained the sutlers' stores of their supply <d' i^utta 
pen ha rulers, buttons, etc., of which to make badges, rings, etc. 

'Twas now that our "officers" and "members" became the 
more important. "(Jeneral I >." was in favor at the quartermaster's 
and was thus able to keep us tolerably well supplied with potatoes, 
beans, pork, bread, etc., at regular army prices. "Major B." 
opened a small sutler shop in camp where we could get anything 
he had to sell, on tick, though at an advanced price, ('apt. Bat- 
terson gave us our daily bread. •"Lieut. 15." "did us" on paper. 
showing our position in different battles. (These pictures he after- 
wards had photographed. ) "Serg. D." was always "so as to be 
around with his chuck-a-luck." While "Corp. K." put chevrons 
and cords on our jackets and pants. Johnny H. was the star at 
"Bishops' Varieties." "Poodle" attended to our legal affairs. 
'•Senator Wilson" was our diplomatist. "Dr. Ryan," of the 
"Cooper Institute." attended to our medical wants, but, unlike all 
other doctors in the army, he recommended "blue mass" instead 
of quinine. "Slippery Jim" was careful that no key be turned 
upon ii-. or that no lock should debar our going wheresoever we 
would. "Father" (use a as in hare) with his venerable graj locks, 
and "Mother" with her kit of tools, cared for the welfare of their 
children. "Channahon" (captain of the Channahon Battery) did 
our ironing. "Skipper" (the canal boat captain) had charge of 
our boats for we had two and sometimes three on the river. 
The "Deacon's Son" attended to having seventy-five photographs 
of "Battery" taken for us, that each might have a "purp" to 
take home with him. We also had an anatomist and entomologist 
among us. who made it his stud} to discover the real difference 
between the Yankee and rebel gray backs; for we all felt there 
was a difference besides the stripes on the latter by which they 
were readily distinguished. He found the rebel gray hack to be 
furnished with a pair of sharp claws, and concluded thej were 



266 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

necessary to them in order that they might hold on to the rebels 
whenever they ran. The discovery of these claws accounted for 
the peculiar nip the striped gray backs gave us. Our bugler also 
blowed and fiddled. "Billy Greagan" made sweet music while 
u Doc H" tripped the light fantastic toe. "Christie 11 kept us alive 
with his good humor and jokes. "Salt Pine 11 interested us with 
his former encounters with the greasers. "Laddie" told us of 
"Hold Hingland. 11 "Kirby Smith 11 had dropped military life and 
taken to politics. Then there was the droll "Lop-eared Dutch- 
man; 11 "Noisy 11 (detailed from the 24th Wisconsin); "Kickapoo, 11 
and others who each played his part. 

The Christian League that was formed at the Post Chapel had 
several members in the Battery; but we were more largely repre- 
sented at the "Temperance Society. 11 

On the night of the 18th one of the nearest saw-mills burned 
down. We shed no tears over it, for it was one which had kept 
the strongest guard to keep us from "borrowing 11 boards, but with 
very little effect. 

On the 21st John Martin went home on furlough. That 
night two of our men happened to be in town without passes and 
were accosted by the patrols. They said they had no passes. 
" Then we must take you to the guard-house. " The men requested 
to be taken to headquarters, so the guards inarched them to Gen. 
Steadman's headquarters and into the general's presence. The 
general asked them to what command they belonged: "To 
Battery M, 1st Illinois, sir." " What are you doing in town with- 
out passes?' 1 The men had tasted a little commissary and claimed 
to have lost their way and wanted to get back to the Battery. 
"Where is the Battery stationed? 11 "On the river outside of 
town. 11 Turning to a clerk, the general said: "Give these men a 
pass for two days." Then turning to them he said: " You can 
get to camp in that time, can't you? " While they were waiting 
for the pass, the general turned to his staff and said: "These men 
belong to ray Battery, of which I have told you. 11 

On the 22d we turned over our Rodmans and drew six worn- 
out twelve-pounder howitzers. 

On the 23d Porter returned from the hospital. The same day 
McAllister joined us and was assigned to gun 1. 

On the 24th we received word that if we would send to the 
Sanitary Commission rooms we could get some vegetables. We 



OUR •" HEFTY " C V.MPAIGN. 261 

sent and drew about six bushels of onions, and, a daj or two later, 
got four bushels more. 

Several of our men who had been in hospitals some time, and 
who were able to travel, were given furloughs and went home. 
One of them, however, refused to go. "He did not wish to see 
home till he was discharged and could remain there." 

On the 24th Balziger returned from furlough. On the 27th 
a team drove up with a load of muskets, and we were told they 
were for us: that we must drill and stand guard with them! Here 
we had served over two-thirds of our time, and had done our duty 
as artillery-men, but now we must learn the infantry drill and 
become not only infantry-men, but artillery and infantn at oner. 
We almost felt like instituting a young rebellion, hut then remem- 
bering how poorly the gigantic one was faring, we thoughl best to 
take the muskets and do no more with them than we had to. 
Toward tlight two negroes and a white man floated down stream 
on tin- bottom of a dug-out, which hail capsized. The} were 
beyond our help when seen. l>ut were rescued at the pontoon 
bridge. 

Mood was being closely watched, hut no one knew what he 
was going to do. or where he was intending to go. Some thought 
he would fall hark and on his road rail on Chattanooga. This 
seemed to he the opinion at headquarters, so the post must In- pre- 
pared for a sii'uv. The first thing was to gel a large supplj of 
wood on hand, and for that purpose a large detail was made on the 
29th. We were in the artillery garrison department and were 
called upon for eighteen men who were to he there eight days; hut 
the eight days became nearly eighty before they were excused. 

On the 30th our rations, already small enough, were cut down 

to about the "Siege of Chatti (ga 11 standard. Hood was now 

where he threatened our communications and we were to he on 
short rations until his removal from the rear. 

(»n the Is! of December we drew a barrel of onions ami a 
pail of saner kraut from the Sanitary Commission. 

< Mi the 3d orders were received from Major Church, chief of gar- 
rison artillery, regulating our camp duties. In them, hours were 
set down for reveille, assembly, breakfast, guard-mount, infantry- 
drill (of which there were tour, one tor the "nons," one for the 
commissioned officers, one for the company, with muskets, and a 
company artillery-drill) assembly at noon, retreat, tattoo, and tap-. 



268 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

On the 4th we had the first " guard-mount " ever performed 
in the Battery. Never before this had the guards assembled before 
or during the time they were on guard. On the next day we began 
drilling with the detested muskets. 

Our old, worn-out and broken howitzers had to have their 
carriages repainted by order of the post chief of artillery, and we 
commenced on the 7th. There were now no more trains running 
to Nashville, so rumors began to flow in fast. First, Nashville 
had been taken by some one proving traitor and Gen. Steadman 
was killed. Then, Hood had charged the works thirteen times, 
and was repulsed each time. And then we would hear that all is 
right and Sherman is within seven miles of Savannah, etc., etc. 

On the 8th we sent a detail of ten men, namely : Harding, 
Hunt, Henderson, J. Howard, Kane, Kempf, Kopf, Krum, S. 
Lissenden, and Loomis, to Harrison's Landing to guard men who 
were getting out saw-logs for the mills. 

We now drew live small rations to last ten days, and were 
told that Hood was reported to be fortifying in front of Nashville, 
and, if that was the case, we could not expect better times for a 
long while, for Thomas had not force enough to charge and drive 
him from his works. 

On the 11th an extra guard was required for our wood pile. 
This made our guards three or nine per day, which, together with 
the eighteen to cut w r ood for the garrison, four to cut wood for 
ourselves, and ten up at Harrison, brought us on duty quite often, 
as there were now only about sixty men for duty. 

On the morning of the 13th as the Chattanooga Gazette 
made its regular calls, great was the consternation among the sut- 
lers when they saw a price list governing sutlers and traders at 
this post, signed by Col. Carlton, who was commanding the post. 
This price list placed nearly all the articles at even lower prices 
than they could be bought for in the north! Many of the sutlers 
closed their shebangs, while others continued to sell at their old 
prices and soon had a fine to pay — $25.00 for each article sold 
higher than the list stipulated. Some, more sensible, sold such 
articles as they could afford to at the fixed figures and had none 
on hand of anything on which they would lose. This was what 
most of the soldiers wished to see, for they had been robbed long 
enough. We were expecting to pay a high price, but to pay five 
or six times as much for an article as it would cost at home we 



OUR "' 11KFTV *" CAMPAIGN. 269 

did imt relish, lint in a few days the prices were as hierh as ever 
tin- colonel having issued an order allowing it. 

"3ojers" at the rear are generally supposed to be dressed up, 
and as there were so many all around us, even to the uegro regi- 
ments camped next to lis, who wore paper collars, the paper collars 
gradually worked their way around some of our necks. A soldier 
seen with one on was either whistled ai and called "Ring," or 
"There goes one with his descriptive list around bis neck" the 
description probably describing him as one who wished to put on 
style. The first man who appeared in the Battery with a collar 
on was called to whenever be made Ins appearance outside his 
shanty. "Here. Ring; here, Ring,' 1 would go all around camp as 
In- showed his head outside his door. 

On tin- 1 1th Carey was detailed to go to Harrison to black- 
smith for tin* lumbermen. 

At 12 I'. M., of the 18th, our guards heard iron being loaded 
on cars at the depot. We knew from this that something had 
been done at the rear front; besides this, the day before there had 
been flying rumors that Thomas had defeated Hood, that he had 
captured 1,000 prisoners and sixteen guns. And also citizens, 
coming in from the mountains, said they heard faint reports of 
cannon to the northwest all thai day. And on the morning of 
the 19th we received authentic proof that Thomas had completely 
routed Hood, had captured 8.00(1 prisoners and thirty guns, and 
also that the road was now clear. This was glorious news for the 
nation, and for us individually! It was thought we could now 
see our way (dear to more and better ration-. 

The same day we received orders to semi a detail of ten men. 
to Kingston, by the first boat to guard lumbermen, and also to 
work as well as guard. Corporal Harter was to have command. 
The men selected were Beadle, Brown, Cope. Coslet, Mundell, 
Murphey, McAllister, Patton and Rhodes. Beadle ami Rhodes 

were finally left out. ami Gam n. Kempf and Mead put on the 

list. As -"UN as they were detailed they were freed from duty in 
the Battery, and as no boat left for Kingston till the 8th of Jan- 
uary, they had a long rest. 

Pari of the preparations for a siege was to raise, arm ami 
equip a body of men to he called the "Civic Guards." They 
embraced all male non-combatants who were able to shoulder a 



270 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

musket, and consisted of sutlers, store-keepers, citizens — rebel and 
union, and contrabands. Now that there was no more danger of 
Hood visiting us they were disbanded. 

On the 20th it was expected we should again draw, what was 
called, full rations; but no, we only got five rations to last the rest 
of the month — eleven days! 

On the 22d Lieut. Flusky was detailed to act on Col: Carlton's 
staff. He left us on the next day. 

Adler. of gun 1, having received the proper certificates from 
our officers, was permitted to make copies of maps for his own use 
at the topographical engineer's office, Department of the Cumber- 
land. 

Christmas Eve had a bad effect upon the officer, who inspect- 
ed us on the morning of the 25th. He could not stand erect. 
His commands were: "Close order, march. " "Right-face without 
doubling, march." "Arms aport, march." "Break ranks, march." 
And that was the amount of the inspection, save a great deal of 
laughter. Our dinner that day was a little better than on the 
sanic day a year before; but then we had seen still better, notwith- 
standing our being told we never had sucb good grub till we came 
into the army. 

On the 29th Stone was mustered out at Madison, Wis. 
Hoffer, of gun 5, went to hospital. That day the number on 
detail to cut wood for the garrison was reduced to four men. We 
now had forty-seven men on duty daily. 

Gen. Meagher was now in command of the district, in Stead- 
man's absence, and it was thought by some that he might do some- 
thing about our small rations: so, when we drew our bread on the 
29th, "Salt Lake"' took his loaf to the general's headquarters. 
The general was in. "See here, general, what small rations we 
are getting." The general took the loaf in his hand, shook his 
head, said "It is small" — and did no more. 

Orders regarding passes were now quite strict. We were 
allowed only two passes for the Battery, so that only two men 
could be absent at a time without being in danger of having to 
pay a visit to a certain large brick house, on Market Street, with 
iron bars in the windows, the house surrounded by a high board 
fence, and known as the Bull Pen: or else be given quarters in an 
old frame church that stood not far from our camp. Accidentally 
our "major" was found in town on the 29th with no pass; but an 



OUR "" HEFTY CAMPAIGN. T, 1 

abundance of corn-ketchup ( inside ). He was taken to the church 
for lodgings ai uights and allowed to work oil the streets for 
twenty days. 

On the 31 si we were mustered by Capt Schutz, of Battery 1. 
1st Michigan. That day Orange Mercer joined us and was 
assigned to gun 1. At uight manj met at the captain's quarters 
to see tlir old year die ami to usher the Dew one in. 

Th<> next morning, Sunday, the first day of the year 1865, found 
those who had watched, during the night, with such ;! headache that 
the appointed inspection was postponed till the next Sabbath. 

That 'lav George and William Little. Chapman ami Jas. I>. 
Miller joined us. Chapman was assigned to gun 1. Win. Little 
and Miller t<> gun 3, ami Geo. Little to gun 4. Also Lieut. 
Burton, Corp. Cogswell ami Private Flint returned from furlough. 

They had been shut up iii Nashville 1>\ II I 's embargo. They 

left Sergt. Short there confined with the small-pox and John 
Martin was with him as nurse. 

On the 2d '0. W. Cooley, Esq. who was deputized by Gov. 
Yates to visit the Illinois troops in that department, and to notice 
the care the Sanitary Commission was taking of such troops, called 
on us. The assembly was blown and we gathered around him to 
hear what word he brought from the north and from our Prairie 

State. He told us in few words his husiness there. He asked 

what the Sanitary Commission had done for us. and requested us to 
choose a committee to draw up a statement of what had Keen 
received, and of wdiat we thought of the Sanitary and Christian 
Commission, and what we thought would he the result of having a 
State agent appointed, as had Ohio and Indiana. He then stated 

that lie was also desirous of getting the voice id' the Illinois 
soldiers upon the matter of building an asylum for soldiers' 
orphan-. He said he had attempted to raise funds In the State for 
that purpose, hut that all turned a deaf ear to him. and now lie 
thought if each soldier would give a dollar toward it. those at 

home would then see that we were desirous of having our children 
cared for after rebel bullets should have laid us low. and they 
would then he more willing to contribute. Turning to "Salt 

Lake" he asked. "If the thought ever most ] > 1< >lll i 1KM t in hi- mind 

was not of his children, or" -aid he. ••you may not have any chil- 
dren?" "No," spoke up ••.!,„• of the Cooper's Institute." •"he is an 
orphan." But doe was always ready with such droll remarks. 



272 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

We chose Acller to write the memorial, and he did it in a man- 
ner that met the views of a large majority of us. The next day 
the paper was presented to Mr. Cooley at the rooms of the Ohio 
State agent. 

On the 5th Ralph was detailed as orderly for Gen. Meagher. 

On the 7th Gen. Steadman returned to the command of the 
district (of the Etowah) and a salute of thirteen guns was fired. 
The same day our men returned from Harrison. On the 8th the 
new detail started for Harrison. On the 10th we drew full 
rations! ! 

For several days it had rained quite hard and now the river 
was much swollen. Drift-wood was floating by in great quanti- 
ties. All we had to do to get our fire wood was to choose such as 
we wanted, tow it to shore and haul it up the steep bank. Catch- 
ing wood afforded us much amusement, as occasionally a man 
would slip off his log into the river, and would thus secure not 
only wood but a good ducking. He would retreat to his shanty in 
good order amid the cheers of those who had witnessed his mishap. 
This drift-wood saved us sending a detail five miles to get wood, 
but we thought we would have more and better wood, and, at less 
risk, should we send a detail five or six miles up the river, to where 
wood was abundant, and raft it down. Accordingly, on the 12th, 
Corp. Cogswell, Privates Albee, Barr, Duffy, Clancy, Harper, Joe 
Howard, Harding, Rowley and McAllister started off for that pur- 
pose. The same day Nichol was detailed to take charge of a team 
at the garrison artillery corral. Toward night we drew a barrel 
of onions and a barrel of green apples at the Sanitary Commission. 

On the 14th Lewis H. Miller joined us and was assigned to 
gun 5. Dezelle returned from hospital, and Ralph accompanied 
Gen. Meagher to Savannah via New York. 

On the 16th Noyes, McDaniel, Long, Robert Powers, and 
Bruins returned to their commands. Noyes and Long belonged to 
the 24th Wisconsin, McDaniel to the 78th, Powers to the 51st 
Illinois and Bruins to the 15th Missouri. 

That day we began the new (to us) mode of roll call. Each 
sergeant would march his detachment out into line, and, saluting 
his officer, say, "All present or accounted for,'' or, u So many pres- 
ent, balance unaccounted for" — if he knew not the cause of their 
absence. The same day the first raft of wood arrived. 



0l T K " II KI-TY " CAMPAIGN. 273 

On the IMli Sergt. Short and Private Martin returned to the 
Battery, and on the next day Corp. Cogswell and squad returned, 
bringing another raft. 

On the 21st Hendrie was transferred to the Veteran Reserve 
( !orps. 

On the 22d Corp. Mercer, Privates Simpson, Weyl, Wilson, 
Wilber, Winnemore and Young, were detailed as guards at Lieut. 
Kinkead's headquarters. The lieutenant had charge of the ord- 
nance of the garrison. Thai day Kane and Newton started for 
home on furlough, and on the 24th Corp. Dolton followed. 

On the 25th Corp. Korah, Privates Barr, Colby, Duffy, Flint, 
Franck, Harding, Loomis, Martin and Rowley, started up the 
river to raft down more wood. 

On the 27th three of those sen! to Kingston were returned to 
the Battery on account of their having foraged a little too much 
to suit the lieutenant in command. The three reported fine times 
at Kingston, very little to do and plenty to eat. They said they 
managed to hide about 2,000 pounds of pork one night which they 
had "borrowed 11 from a rich rebel. The lieutenant discovered that 
it was left in care of "Slippery dim" and told him that if he would 
disclose where it was that it might he returned to its owner, he 
would say no more about it. "Slippery dim" saw it would he the 
best he could do. so he told, when the lieutenant immediately 
ordered him hack to the Battery with two others as before men- 
tioned. This breach of promise so disgusted the whole command, 
that they soon had another officer to command them one who 

was as lenient as the other was <r\rv. One of the three men. 

accompanied by R. Hamilton and Henderson, returned to Kings- 
ton mi the 30th. 

On the 81st Wright was detailed to Lieut . K inkead's head- 
quarters as corral veterinary sure-eon. The same day Hoffer 
returned from hospital. 

On the 1st of February Johnson returned from hospital, and 
nothing further worthy id' notice occurred till the L9th, when, as 
there had heen some inquiries made as to the number of our men 
doing duty, all the dog-robbers except two were returned to duty. 

We had had nin ■ ten excused from duty. On the 25th Kane 

and Newton returned from home. 

Work on the guard house was going on slowly, as no one was 
in any great haste to sleep awaj from his regular quarters every 



274 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

other night. But, work as slowly as we would, the house was at 
length completed, and on the 27th the guards were ordered to 
make that their headquarters. They were to fall in line at the 
approach of any general officer and to salute him as he passed. 
Guards on duty were to salute all officers according to their rank. 
Not wishing to disobey orders, we were very careful to not see an 
officer until he was so far passed that it was too late to salute. 

As we now came on duty only once in three days, and as we 
were getting full rations (?), it was thought it would conduce 
more to our health to have us work a little more. But what was 
there for us to do? The only thing that could be thought of was 
the improvement of Fort McAlone. The work was accordingly 
laid out, and on the 27th a detail was made to begin work. About 
a dozen shovelfuls were thrown out of the moat that day. We 
never objected to fortifying while at the front and when there 
was necessity for it, but here at the rear where there were so many 
pioneers whose duty it was to fortify, but who were now doing 
little or no duty, we did not relish the idea of working on the 
fortifications. 

On the 28th we were mustered by Capt. Shutz. That day we 
received orders to draw half rations of fish, instead of all meat. 
This order was observed about a month. 

Troops were now being sent to and above Knoxville from 
Thomas' army; once in a while a regiment would pass with which 
we were acquainted; it would then seem as though we were really 
meeting our friends at home. 

On the 2d of March Kane was detailed as clerk at Col. Carl- 
ton's headquarters. 

On the 4th Lieut. Gillette was appointed acting assistant 
adjutant general on Maj. Church's staff. 

On the 6th S. Lissenden was detailed as clerk at Col. Carlton's 
headquarters, and Corp. Hamilton and Private Ryan were detailed 
as guards to a saw-mill about a mile above our camp. 

The river was now rising very rapidly and families living near 
the mills with difficulty removed their wares before the water had 
risen above the second floor. We now had our day. The high 
water was floating away the large piles of lumber and wood 
already cut for the furnaces. We fastened logs together so as to 
form a boom, and extended them so as to catch all this floating- 
wood and lumber in the little recess at the foot of the hill on 



OUB ■' IIKI'TY CAMPAIGN. 275 

which our fort stood; then with our boats we towed this floating 
debris to shore, and in a short time had wood enough to last us 
the coming summer and lumber enough to open a lumberyard. 
The mill men objected at first, but soon concluded we were the 
best owners. We hauled the wood op to camp and piled it up 
nicely to dry for summer use. Twice during the month the river 
rose so high that the families along its banks had to leave their 
houses for other quarters. 

At 1 P. M. on the 9th, the wind blowing almost a hurricane, 
a canoe containing three men capsized just before it reached the 
island that lav abreast of us. Two of our men. Corporals Scales 
and Banks, immediately went to their assistance with one of our 
boats, and succeeded in rescuing the men who proved to lie a 
lieutenant and two negroes coming down to Chattanooga after 
some provisions. They were bringing a barrel of eggs for the 
market. The lieutenant lost his seventy-dollar overcoat and gave 
the eggs to his preservers. These eggs were worth sixty cents a 
dozen in < Ihattanooga. 

On the 10th our rations were again raised to what was called 
full rations, which was about half what we received in 1862 and 
until September, 1863. A soldier cannot use all the rations gov- 
ernment allows him, but what was now being issued as full rations 
would not make two good meals a day. Government was paying 
for really full rations; then certainly some one was filling his 
pockets out of what should have filled our stomachs. We wished 
the patriots who were enriching themselves by stealing from us 
were in some good place where quartermasters were not needed. 
But this loth day of March was one long to be remembered 
by the members of our Battery who were that day present. As 
wasstated in its proper place, while at Camp Douglas contributions 
were taken and a violin purchased with the proceed- that we might 
have music with which to pass away the time in camp. The violin 
had always been in charge of the bugler, he being the best player 
in the company. It was considered as company property, was 
carried on one of the caissons on all our marches and campaigns, 
had keen in all our engagements and was looked upon as a relic 
that each member would like to own in after years, and which it 
was intended to raffle off at our muster out. Accordingly, one 
evening, as soon as all duty was over, we assembled at the public 
hall (the guard house), and there deputed "Poodle" to demand 



276 BATTERY M. FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

the fiddle of its keeper, and to bring it to the hall. The violin 
was finally surrendered and "Poodle" soon marched triumphantly 
into the hall and was voted by all a trump. Raffling began, men 
being chosen to represent those who were absent by detail or for any 
reason. Several turned forty when " Salt Pine " counted forty-three ! 
and took the fiddle. He subsequently sold it to "Mother."' 

On the 16th orders were received to be ready to leave on 
Monday, the 20th. The captain was to be chief of artillery of the 
posts of Cleveland and Charleston. We were to be stationed at 
the former place. Orders were immediately sent off for the several 
men on detail to return to the Battery without delay. 

On the 17th Corp. Harter, R. Hamilton and Kempf arrived by 
boat from Kingston. On the next day the people living near the 
mills had to leave their homes again as the river rose so as to half 
cover the roofs of some of them. Again we had a fine oppor- 
tunity to catch lumber and wood, but as we were going to leave 
so soon, we did not want any more — really we knew not what to do 
with what we already had. But soon we found there was a way 
provided to make use of our large piles of lumber and wood. For 
a week several companies of the 1st Minnesota Heavy Artillery 
had been arriving. Among them were many "subs, 11 "yearlings" 
and "vets," all of whom were lions, having their pockets well 
filled with greenbacks. It would not do for them to lie on the 
foul earth with their stylish clothes, so they were ready to pay any 
price for lumber to build bunks first and then shanties. They did 
not object to paying at the rate of sixty to one hundred dollars 
per thousand, so they got the lumber. But with the wood we had 
more trouble. Sutlers wanted it, but the question arose: " What 
should we take for pay? 1 ' It was finally agreed we should receive 
blacking for it, or anything else in its stead, and whether he, who 
remained behind to settle up the Battery's business, ever disposed 
of it, we never knew. 

We had not received any pay since the loth of November. 
and many of us had long been out of money. There was a sutler 
who had his shebang near our camp, who had been licensed to fur- 
nish the garrison artillery with such things as they needed on tick. 
Our Battery had taken a number of " Mr. Purely *s scrip.*' and Mr. 
Purely was a little anxious to get the amount due him. as we were 
about to leave, but as we had no money, he was obliged to be con- 
tented until the greenback man should come to see us. 



CHAPTER XXIX. 



()ru orders to move on the *- )(| th were so changed as to cause 
us to leave on the 19th. We turned over our howitzers, sold the 
last foot of our Lumber, packed up, left camp at uoon and marched 
to the depot. Passing Mr. Purdy's headquarters, we could not 
repress a very audible groan. The new arrivals wanted to know if 
we were going home, and were answered very blithely in the 
affirmative "and would carry any message they might wish to send 
to their friends." At " Bishop's Varieties," we called vociferously 
for the proprietor, but he did not respond to our call. "Poison. 
swill, slop." escaped our lips in no very low tones, while passing 
the noted "brewery. 11 We finally reached the depot, and, having 
stacked arms, began to make ourselves at home. "Charley 11 was 
always a lion at the post quartermasters, and thither he wended 
his way armed with several empty canteen-.; he could always gel 
the best that was to he had there, and in a short time the canteens 
returned to camp, tilled. Those who chose to were engaged in 
assorting corn. Several became tired in a very short time and lay 
down to sleep. Others began the practice of rope-walking, using 
a long boiler that lay near by, for a rope. It was too slack for 
men in their condition and they soon found themselves lying on 
the ground. 

At length, at half past >ix. the engine whistled and we were 
soon on our way to Cleveland. At the tunnel they missed one id' 
their lamps after the train had passed. There was such an attrac- 
tion on board the train that, although we passed ;it the rate id' 
about eight miles an hour, the lamp Hew to one id' our cars. We 
were loaded on Hats. At 9:15 the train reached its destination, 
and. provideiitiall\ -topped jus! in time; for the switch w 
turned that hail we gone five rods further the engine would have 
run off the track, and doubtless some of us would have been hurt. 
as about twenty were riding on tl ngine. 



278 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

Switched off, our next care whs to find some place to bunk. 
Some slept under the eaves of the depot building, others under the 
platform, while the remainder slept out doors. 

As all were preparing their breakfast, next morning, the 
Knoxville train approached at full speed. Just as it reached the 
switch the engineer discovered that it was turned so as to run his 
train on a side-track, on which stood several cabooses used as cook 
rooms by men working on the road. The engineer reversed his 
engine, applied the full head of steam, and jumped off. The 
wheels immediately began to spin in reverse, but on the train 
came, struck the cabooses, piled one on another, stove in the front 
of the engine, and only stopped when the wreck would allow it to 
go no farther. It then began to work backwards, but the drivers 
were slipping so that it moved only a few feet before the engineer 
was again at his post. There was quite a stir among the cooks 
when the engine struck. It was a droll scene to see them leap 
from their cars and run as though some evil monster was at their 
heels ! 

There were two forts at Cleveland, both built on the ridge 
near where Ave had camped nearly a year before. This ridge 
extended north and south for many miles, rising in some places to 
quite a height, at others lowered to almost a level with the valley. 
The forts stood southwest of town — the first called Fort Howard, 
and then mounting four guns, was about a quarter, while the 
second, mounting six guns, and known as Fort McPherson, stood 
about half a mile from town. Cleveland has before been men- 
tioned as being a beautiful town, wearing a pleasant, retired look, 
and principally inhabited by staunch loyalists. As lovely as it 
appeared to us a year before, we were now to witness its varied 
changes — from its winter condition to its midsummer charms. 
Beautiful flowers and shade trees stood on both sides of the streets, 
and added additional charm to the place. When we came there 
was very little business done, but it soon increased until it had 
become quite metropolitan. There were other causes that made us 
look admiringly on the place. The citizens, at first strangers, soon 
became friends, and friendship increased until in some instances 
stronger ties bound us together, and caused several of our number 
to select Cleveland as their future home. 

At 8:30, on the 20th, we fell in and were soon divided up into 
squads as well as we could be, considering the mixed up style we 



OUR " 1IK1-TY CAMPAIGN. 279 

had lived in at Chattanooga. Nos. 1. 2, 5 and 6 marched to Port 
McPherson with Lieut. Burton as commander, while Nos. 3 and I 
were to occupy Fori Howard and were to be commanded l>v Lieut. 
Gillette; the captain to be chief of artillery and t ake his head- 
quarters al Fori McPherson. A large number of commodious 

pole shanties si I near each fort. Infantry soldiers occupied 

these shanties at the time, l»ut they were t<> move in a few davs, 
and then we were to have them. Our tents were pitched near the 
forts and some of us built temporary shanties, carrying the hoard- 
from the late camp of the 5th Tennessee Mounted [nfantry, 
known as the "Hog Back Regiment." That day we began firing 
a morning and evening gun from Fort McPherson. 

Some of us foraged a little, at times, as did also the 1 I'M h ami 
150th Illinois and the 65th New York, who were stationed here; 
but, as we were generally careful to visit only rebels, [llinoisians 
were soon great favorites among the unionists. "Are you from 
Eelleenoise ?" was the question first propounded by a citizen, if a 
soldier entered into conversation with him. and if the answer was 
in the affirmative he had the passport to the citizen's confidence 
and he could readily learn who were true and who were not. 

It was several days before we took charge of the forts. ;| S the 
^•iius in them were left iii charge of the infantry until they could 
he turned over. \\ e were to draw ten new twelve-pounder 
Napoleons and were perfectly willing the infantry should continue 
to guard the forts as long as they pleased. 

The weather was delightful, and we soon instituted the games 
of ball and " pig-in-the-hole-ah " for out-door amusement, (diess. 
dominoes, cards, checkers and dancing did much to make our in- 
door time pass pleasantly until, having formed acquaintances 
among the citizens, the hoys were in camp very little. 

On the 23d the captain came up from Chattanooga. That 
day the men at Fort McPherson moved into the shanties, and we 
took charge of both tort-. The same day the 149th Illinois so 
doubled up as to allow our men at Fort Howard to have four 
shanties, and these, with one they had built, gave them quite 
respectable lodgings. Four of our new guns arrived torn- We 
never received more. Furloughs came for four of the men, viz: 

Mr wart, of gun 2, Mead and < iaili 111 oil. of gun I. and Mack, of glin 

6. They started on the 24th. Lieut. Fluskey joined us on 
the 25th. 



280 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

Every morning before breakfast, and at all hours of the day, 
women — white and black — came to our camp with pies, ( '?) corn- 
pones and gingerbread. Their pies were of two kinds — pegged and 
sewed, but which were the toughest was almost impossible to tell. 
We sometimes bought some, but digesting them was another thing 
entirely. Sometimes these women brought in twist tobacco and 
milk (milk always meaning buttermilk) and some time after our 
arrival, great quantities of butter. To the south, and also to the 
west of town, stood a large refugee camp. In those camps these 
women lived. They were principally those whose natural pro- 
tectors were in the rebel army. They came mostly from northern 
Georgia, being forced to come inside our lines to keep from starving. 

Every Sabbath there were one or two sermons preached at the 
principal church in town, and sometimes of an evening during the 
week. At first there were only one or two females present, but 
toward the last, one side of the church was crowded with blue 
coats, the other with ladies — the elite of the place. It was not 
unfrequent that twenty-four out of our twenty-eight men were 
present, and as we now wore our colors to the largest extent, we 
lent quite a reddish tinge to our side of the house. Citizens and 
soldiers in common preached to us. 

On the 27th Col. Felix Prince Salm Salm. commander of the 
Post, issued an order that "All the troops at the Post must have three 
roll-calls and drill four hours each day. Soldiers must salute all 
officers. No soldier could go to town without a pass, and none 
could remain in town over night.' 1 But we managed not to extend 
our daily drill beyond about twenty minutes, and to avoid his 
special patrols when any of our boys were in town without passes. 

On the 28th Adler, of gun 1. was officially detailed as draughts- 
man at the topographical engineer's office, Department of the 
Cumberland, where he had already been employed some time. That 
afternoon several trains passed en-route for Bull's Gap, loaded 
with our old comrades, of the 2d Division. They announced their 
recognition of us by calling out to the first one of our men they 
saw, "Pull, John, pull!" etc., and it so happened that the man 
they hailed was the veritable John. 

At every station passed by their train they made it a practice 
to help themselves to anything needful that they could find, 
especialty at sutlers' shebangs, but rarely troubled citizens. At 
Chattanooga they had entered a car loaded with bacon and "helped 



our '• hi rn ' c \miwh.n. -js i 

themselves to enough to lasl for the last six months to come, 1 
according to the words of the cooper. 

On the 29th a section of a train ran off the track about a mile 
above Cleveland. The section left at the station had Gen. Opdj ke's 
brigade on board, the soldiers of which scattered aboui the town. 
Our of them, a drummer boy, happened to offend a couple of Col. 
Salm Salm's 8taff officers, one of whom rode up to the boy and 
struck him. The others of the tth Army Corps boys, who had 
seen this, charged toward the saloon to which the officers had gone; 
the officers ran from the saloon, crawled under the cars and ran up 
the hill to headquarters, the 4th Corps men pelting them with 
bricks and stones until the} were half way up the hill. The 
officers immediately collected aboui twenty guards and had them 
load their muskets. The soldiers (among whom were the 73d 
Illinois and 125th Ohio) called them conscripts and told them to 
come down to the cars and they would disarm them without using 
a weapon. Gen. Opdyke had been sitting in one id' the freight 
cars, a silent spectator. He now came out, and, beckoning the 
officers to come to him, said after they were before him and had 
told their version of the affair: "I and my men have fought 
three years at the front ami we are not now e-,, ni o- to submit to 
such treatment from yon who have just received your five hundred 
dollars. Ueport yourselves at headquarters under arrest l>\ my 
orders." And he followed to headquarters to see they did as he 
commanded. He was given three deafening cheers, and as many 
doleful groans were given for the benefit of the proud pair. One 
man called out to the guards: " We hear you have Keen abusing 
Battery ML; d m you. if you do it again, we'll come down and 
(lean you out." 

Gen. Dyson, of our Battery, go! a permit and opened a news- 
depot on the public square, and was soon doing a large business 
tor that locality. 

So many troops four regiments and a battery could not lie 
at one place long without instituting a place of amusement, if 
there was not already one. Several men from the different regi- 
ments and three or four from our Battery, made preparations to 
open a sort of theater in an old, dilapidated hrick church, and in a 
few days they announced a grand treat to those who wished to 
attend. They lnul quite a full house nearly every nighl as long as 
it was kept open. 



282 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

On the 2d the remainder of those who were at Kingston 
returned, except Coslet. 

On the 3d we received official notification that Petersburg 
was captured, and in honor of the event Fort McPherson fired 
thirty-four blanks. That day Corporal Scales was appointed 
acting orderly sergeant at Fort Howard; Kane, of No. 3. and 
Colby, of No. 4, acting corporals, and Brown, of No. 4, to act as 
bugler. Orders were issued for them to have roll-calls and drill 
there the same as had been the rule at Fort McPherson. 

Our Norwegian was among those who had just returned from 
Kingston, and while absent had not been drilled, consequently he 
knew very little about musket drill. When called out to drill he 
handled his gun very clumsily. Finally the lieutenant came up, 
when he very naively said: "Lieutenant. I wish you would give 
me a drilled musket; this one is so awkward, it don't know any- 
thing." 

On the 4th we drew whisky, probably on account of the good 
news received the day before and which was this day confirmed. 

On the 7th Balziger received a detail as butcher for the Post. 

At 9 P. M. the news came that Lee had surrendered Richmond, 
his entire army and himself! This was such glorious news and 
spoke so plainly of peace and home that for the first time in the 
Battery's annals, its members joined in loud and prolonged cheers! 
The ice once broken, we found it no trouble to raise a cheer at any 
appropriate time thereafter. Till midnight the camps were all in 
a turmoil, soldiers running here and there bearing the glad tidings, 
and questioning each other as to whether it might not. after all, 
be another canard. Bands played the nation's airs and marches 
and all bespoke complete bewilderment over the joyful news. But 
imagine our feelings when early on the next morning the telegram 
was received that it was Fitz Hugh and not Robt. E. Lee who had 
been captured. 

On the 8th we fired one hundred rounds from Fort McPherson 
over the good news. A couple of our men had been out into the 
country, and as they returned were halted by the guards after they 
were far inside the lines, and having no passes, were marched to 
headquarters. They there stated their case; how they had passed 
out and in without the pickets seeing them. They were immedi- 
ately released and the guards severely reprimanded for their 
carelessness. 



OUR " HEFTY. " i AMI' AK.V 283 

At 12 P. M.. of the 9th, the infantry guards roused the camp 
with the cry oi " I'm ! fire!' 1 It was only an outhouse uear the 
suburbs of town thai was burning, so all turned in again. 

At uoon, <>n the 10th, a telegram was received, signed by 
Secretary Stanton, stating that Lee had uow really surrendered. In 
honor of the event Fori McPherson fired thirty-six guns. At 
nigh! tin 1 town and camps were brilliantly illuminated. The 
infantry at Fori Howard were congregated around a large bon-fire 
when several of our men sent a shower of lighted fuzes among 
them, startling them as though a body of the enemy had suddenly 
charged upon them. Wethen began firing 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35- 
second fuzes from our muskets. They went high in the air and 
appeared like rockets. The citizens flocked into the streets 
to see our pyrotechnic display. We used several hundred fuzes 
that uight, borrowing them from the old guns that stood in 
the forts. 

On the 11th it was learned that Lee and his army were 
paroled. This dampened our spirits much, for remembering Vicks- 
burg and the number of Pemberton's men we had to fight at 
Chickamauga, we imagined Lee's army marching to join Johnston. 

On the 13th, upon learning of the surrender of Lynchburg, 
the Battery received orders to tire a salute nt 1(H) guns from each 
fni't mi the 1 tth. We did so at noon, a large uumber of citizens 
having assembled to witness it. A.s the last gun tired, all felt that 
now the starry flag was again floating over Sumter. 

Early on the L5th our pulses, that were still beating high 
over the happy rejoicings of the day before, were suddenly chilled. 
Smiie had seen a telegram at the office t<> the effect that President 
Lincoln and his secretary of state had been assassinated the night 
before the former while at Ford's theatre, the latter while lying 
sick on his bed! Those who had seen the telegram were disin- 
clined to report what they had read, but gradually it became 
known through camps. No one would believe it. hut all pro- 
nounced it a sensation scheme of some enemy to dampen our 
rejoicing. Toward night the particulars began to come in, ami 
then all flocked to the office to read as fast as the operator should 
copy and post up on the bulletin hoard. When to this confirma- 
tion we saw Secretary Stanton's name signed, then all were com- 
pelled to believe it. and many a tierce invective was uttered against 
the nation's foes, wherever found. Veteran officers and soldiers 



284 BATTERY M. FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

and union citizens swore they would show no more leniency 
toward traitors. Loyal citizens walked the streets till a late hour 
that night hoping to find some rebel outside their door. Soldiers 
were ready to shoot down the first person who should show the 
least sign of rejoicing. As time wore on rebel citizens declared 
that in Lincoln's death they had lost their best friend. 

On the 16th we fired a mourning gun every half hour from 
sunrise till sunset. Charles Franeke, who had been for some time 
laboring under a partial aberration of mind, now became entirely 
irrational and had to have constant attendance. 

On the 17th the captain received orders to send men to take 
charge of the fort at Charleston. He detailed Sergt. Schnasse, 
Corps. Clute, Dolton and Harter, and Privates Beadle, Bonser, 
Cope, Hamilton, Huges, Hunt, Krum, Geo. Little, Win. Little, J. 
D. Miller, Mundell, Offenloch, Patton, Porter, Proctor, Roper, 
Trumbull. Weyl. Wilson and Young. Lieut. Burton was to take 
command. They left on the 18th and took quarters in two large 
shanties standing in the fort which was called Fort Bishop. They 
relieved a detachment of the 5th Indiana Battery, and followed 
the customs of that batteiw so far as to board in town, and sleep 
at the fort. The fort stood on a high hill, to the west of town. 
and on the south bank of the Hiawassee River, and about 600 feet 
above its waters. The fort had seven or eight embrasures, but 
contained only four guns — two ten-pounder Rodmans and two 
ten-pounder Parrotts. 

The Hiawassee afforded them splendid bathing places, and 
they made frequent trips there for that purpose. Although the 
river swarmed with fish, yet they could catch few without trot 
lines. Our men at Charleston could not keep one a week before it 
would be stolen. The citizens were nearly unanimously sece-sh 
and could not be trusted. Two companies of the 149th Illinois 
were stationed there, and our men had no more restraints placed 
upon them than as though they were at home. At first they were 
required only to be present at inspection on Sunday mornings — 
that being the only time the lieutenant visited the fort, but lat- 
terly they had to answer to their names morning and evening — if 
they were present. They had frequent parties, and on such 
occasions, several of us from Cleveland would be present. 

On the 19th we fired a presidential salute of 21 guns from 
Fort McPherson. 



OUE " HKFTV " ( \MI'\h.N. 285 

Being now well acquainted with the citizens, all became well 
used to th«' ladies 1 snuff-dipping, and to thru- droll localisms. W e 
could sav "Howdy" for "How do you do?" "Branch" for creek. 
"Right smart." "Do you live far about bere?" We'uns" and you 
'uns." "Eel-lee-noise" for Illinois. "Kain-tucky," "< !aval-ree-ah," 
"Reegi-mee-en-tah," &c, &c. 

On the 21st Gen. Steadman visited the Post at Cleveland. We 
fired a salute. Re inspected us, and pronounced himself well satisfied. 

A.t Charleston that day some of the men practiced a jok< 

one who was known as "Snatcher." lie was seen carrying water 
for some women. A self-appointed guard marched down from 
the fort, ami. having told him he was wanted at camp, man lied 
him up under guard, when' he was ordered to report himself to the 
lieutenant who had just got to camp in time to be enlightened 
upon the subject before the man was brought. He pleaded his 
case to the lieutenant who dismissed him, hoping he should never 
have occasion to again send a guard alter him. Those on furlough 
returned on the 25th. 

On the 1st of May our rations were again cut down. 

On the 2d the 1 t9th Illinois left Charleston and was replaced 
l>\ the 11th Michigan (recruits) who were quite strict, and with 
whom our men did not agree any too well. We were now in the 
second Separate Division, Department of the Cumberland. By 
the 149th Illinois leaving Charleston our men there got all the 
shanties they wanted as there were several, near the fort, that 
were now unoccupied. 

On the 3d Porter was detailed as post postmaster at Charles- 
ton, which office he filled until government appointed a citizen on 
the 9th of dune. That day Capt. Spencer was made chief of 
artillery on Brevet Brig. Gen. Salm Salm's staff, and left with the 
general on the Ith for Dalton, whither all the infantry that lay at 
Cleveland had been ordered. We tired a brigadier general's salute 
eleven guns. It was great -port for us to talk these recruits 
into the belief that they were going home and we received material 
assistance from the veterans who belonged in the same regiments 
so much so that they (the recruits) had twice settled their wash- 
women's hills preparatory to leaving. \> the brigade was now 
gone and we were to draw our rations in future direct from Chat- 
tanooga there was no further work for a butcher; so Balziger 
returned to the Battery. 



286 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

On the 6th Ralph returned from the sea-coast and let us 
know much that was going on in the outer world. He was the 
only one of our Battery who saw the "salty brine 1 ' during our crusade. 

On the 8th Lewis H. Miller, who, as stated in the proper place, 
had enlisted as a recruit in our Battery, and who, unknown to us, 
was a deserter from the U. S. Navy, took advantage of the presi- 
dent's proclamation to deserters asking them to return to their 
commands or to report and be pardoned, this day gave himself up 
and was sent to Cairo, 111., to be discharged from the navy. He 
was finally discharged from the steamer, Great Western, at Mound 
City, 111., July 8th, 1865, for three years in the navy. He had, 
however, served most of the time in artillery, having served a term 
and been honorably discharged from Battery A, 1st Maryland 
Artillery. After being discharged from the navy he was ordered 
to report to Battery M for muster-out, but as nothing was heard 
of him by our officers after leaving, he was dropped from our roll 
as a deserter from the gun-boat service. 

On the 8th Capt. Spencer returned to the Battery. 

On the 9th Sergt. Tait was discharged at St. Louis, he having 
been exchanged some time before. He was so crippled from dis- 
eases, he had caught while in rebel prisons, that he had to walk on 
crutches and was maimed for life. Corp. Harter. of gun 6, was 
promoted to fill Tait's place. Corp. Dolton, of gun 3, succeeded 
to gunner, of gun 6, and Felt, of gun 1, to chief of caisson (cor- 
poral) of gun 3. to date from the 10th. 

On the 11th the men built a ten-pin alley at Fort McPherson 
and at Fort Howard they converted one of the largest shanties 
into a gymnasium. That day we were informed that we should be 
home by the first of July, and perhaps sooner, as the captain 
desired that the whole company be mustered out at one time, and 
those who mustered in on the 12th of June, 1862 could, by order 
from the war department, only be held till the first of June. 

On the 13th Sergt. Harter and Private Cope started for home 
on furlough. That day a large body of Johnston's paroled cavalry 
came in. They were fully armed and well mounted. Unluckily 
for them, after they had spent their Mexican silver very freely in 
buying presents for their friends and clothing for themselves, and 
were about to start — in fact many of them had got outside 
our lines again — they were recalled, dismounted and sent to Chat- 
tanooga on the cars by the commandant, at Cleveland. 



OUR " HI'.KTY " CAMP \h.N. 281 

On the Utli rumors came thai Jeff Davis had been captured 
on the 10th. It was thought to be too good news to be true, so 
we did not allow our joy to run high until it should be confirmed; 
ami. by that time, we cared little more aboul it. 

On the L6th T. S. Baker was mustered out at Nashville, and 
mi the 19th Huffman returned from hospital. On the 21st no 
more passes were required from citizens but soldiers still had to 
show t heir "papers." 

We now felt the lack of money and longed for the appearance 
of the paymaster. But if we could not buy luxuries we could get 
much healthier ones by taking a walk into the country, as dew- 
berries ami blackberries were now ripe. From this till leaving for 
home there was not a day. but from one to forty of us were out 
berrying. As the season advanced there were raspberries, apples. 
plums, peaches, and grapes without limit. Quite often we would 
get vegetables potatoes being our favorite, but when we did not 
buy them, we always borrowed from rebels. One rebel minister 
had considerable to say about "not receiving these foreign brether- 
ing into full fellership until they have made full restitooshun." 

On the 29th 0. V. Mercer left for Chattanooga to be mustered 
out, his year having expired. 

On the 30th one of our new men wishing to follow the steps 
of the '"Second Heavy" married a young lady living at Cleveland. 
He had a wife and child af home. Of coins,. 1,,. was loathed by all. 
and fhe captain told him he was a disgrace to the Battery. He 
had lived some time at Salt hake City, which will partly account 
for his toid crime. Two others of our company afterwards 
married at Cleveland, but theirs were honorable weddings. One 
brought his wife to Illinois, and the other returned to Cleveland as 
soon as he w as discharged. 

On the 3d of June Trowbridge was mustered out at Nashville. 

On the 5th 0. V. .Mercer was discharged at Chattanooga and 
Hutchins at Nashville. On the 8th Sergts. Harter ami Cope 
returned from home. Many trains loaded with paroled rebels were 
now | .; ( — i ! i i^-. bearing them to their homes. 

The 12th of dune arrived and passed ami yet the men. sixteen 
in number, who should have been mustered out on the 1st. were 
still with us. and no prospects of anything being done, save by 
themselves, t" get them out before the whole Battery should he 
discharged. 



288 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

On the 13th Titus was discharged at Louisville. 

On the 18th Clute, Beedle and Trumbull started out into the 
country to help the farmers harvest for a few days, and thus, to 
teach them how Yankees work. They were cheered as far as they 
could be seen by our men on the fort. This caused the "11th 
Michiganders" to think we were going home, and then they were 
certain they would receive orders next. When our men began 
work the farmers looked on in complete amazement! Our men 
could with ease cradle and bind a swath while one of the citizens 
cradled one. Our mode of binding they -had never heard of, and, 
as it was evidently a much faster and easier way than theirs, they 
were very anxious to learn it. 

On the 22d three of our men were caught in Cleveland with- 
out passes. They were required to work out their "poll-tax' 1 — two 
clays — on the streets of the town. 

Soldiers by the train-load were passing daily en-route for 
home. Every train that passed only made us more restless. 

On the 30th word was received that the " District of the 
Etowah " was long since non est and that no department or com- 
mand claimed us as belonging to it, but that we should have been 
mustered out when the 1th Corps was. 

On Sunday, the 2d of July, as the men at Charleston were 
being inspected, the lieutenant told them he wanted them to have 
the fort thoroughly policed by the Fourth, as they were then going 
to fire the national salute, and the fort would be crowded with 
visitors, male and female, and he wished the men would look their 
best — have on collars and their hair crimped, etc. "Charley," ever 
ready in repartee, said: "And it would not be inappropriate to 
have something for the bowels." 

It was now learned that we were in the District of Tennessee, 
and were to report to Gen. Stoneman at Knoxville; but he knew 
nothing about us — we were really "out in the cold." 

We fired thirty-six guns from each fort on the Fourth, and at 
times, through the day fired odd shots. At night we had more 
fire-works with fuzes. 

On the 8th word came from Lieut. Murphy who was then at 
Nashville, that orders were on the road for us to go home. 

On the 12th Hammond again left the Battery and did not 
rejoin it. 



CHAPTER XXX. 



we're going eome! 

At last tlif long Looked tor orders came. It was about iiood 
of July L3th when we received the telegram that a train would be 
ceady to take us at midnight that night. The boys 1 faces brightened 
up — we should soon We on the road for home. 

Our guns were at the depot long before uight, but the train 
did not appear till noon of the 11th. It was a train of several 
fiats and cattle cars. As the guns were at the station at Charles- 
ton Hughes tired a blank from one of them the last by our 
Battery. 

The train started from Charleston at L:15 P.M. We were 
all ready to couple on at Cleveland, hut waited over two hours for 
Lieut. Flusky, sending men in all directions to and him. We 
finally left two men to help him load his horse so as to follow on 
the next train. As the engine ( No. 1*21 I . S. M. K. K. ) whistled 
and then puffed, we started for ' k God's country," waving Dixie an 
adieu with our hats ami handkerchiefs. 

We reached Chattanooga at five o'clock, just a few minutes 
too late to take the train for Nashville as it was intended we should 
do. The captain was going to remain behind to turn over our 
guns and equipments. We took our meals at the Soldiers' Home 
ami slept in box-cars. 

On the Kith the guns ami caissons were hauled by hand as 
we could get no teams to do it— first to the arsenal, where the 
ammunition was unloaded, and then to the ordnance depot to turn 
over the guns. We had everything turned over in time for us to 
leave with the t wo o'clock train: hut the ordnance officer would not 
sign his name to the receipt, after it was tilled out. until he had 
first had his dinner, and then we were just twenty minutes too 
late and must lie over until five o'clock of the next morning! 
There was a little cursing done. 



290 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

That afternoon it rained very hard. Toward evening many 
of ns happened in at Van's Pleasure Gardens at the Crutchfield 
House about the same time. He recognized ns as Battery M and 
greeted us very cordially, passing many glasses of beer among us. 
He was our old brigade postmaster and had been, as before stated, 
captured at Brentwood, near Nashville, in 1863. 

At 4:30 A. M., of the 16th, the train slowly moved out that 
was to bear us to Nashville, and we bade a last farewell to 
Chattanooga. 

It so happened that our train had two or three cars loaded 
with medical stores, among which was a large quantity of "Chan- 
ticleer whisky," put up in bottles holding three pints each, the 
bottles being packed in boxes, each box containing a dozen of 
the bottles. Now it further happened that one of the brakemen, 
on the train, took particular liking to some of our men and 
whispered to them that a certain car was not locked and that in 
that car they would find something good. Thither our men went, 
not waiting for the train to stop, but climbing down the side from 
the top of the car. Over a gross found its way into our cars! The 
result was some merry Yankee sojers. 

Aboard the same train was Ex-Lieut. Gen. B. Frank Cheatham, 
formerly of the confederate army. He had three or four horses 
that he was taking to his farm near Nashville. He was a jolly 
man and quite ready to make friends with us. We had fought 
him over two 3'ears. but what of that? He now acknowledged 
himself conquered, and did not refuse to take a drink with us — we 
furnishing the corn ketchup. 

We dined at Decherd, having been helped through the tunnel 
by a "pony" kept for the purpose. At 5 P. M. we reached Mur- 
freesboro, the stronge'st fortified inland town of America. We had 
never seen such heavy and extensive fortifications before. 

We reached the Rock City at 8 P. M. and bunked in the cars. 
In the morning of the 17th, after searching for the Soldiers' 
Home, it was learned that it had been closed over a month, there 
being nothing more for it to do. 

We marched to the Louisville depot at an early hour to be in 
time to take the morning train, which was to leave at seven o'clock. 
The captain started off in search of the transportation office. The 
engine coupled on. (This time we were to have second-class 
passenger cars — the third step toward making us citizens.) We 



OUE " HEFT'S " C V.MP \h.\. 291 

looked through the crowd, hut qo Captain Spencer was to be seen. 
All eyes were kepi steadily on the exil from the passenger house. 
The engine rings. "Here he is!" cries someone, and we immedi- 
ately " shoulder knapsacks " to find thai it was a mistake, and we 
n 1 1 1 s i wait till night. "One minute more," the conductor tells us. 
That minute seems to fly when just at its expiration the captain 
appears! We jump onto the platforms and rash into the cars, not 
being at all careful of bow much we crowded the "recruits," who 
were standing on the platforms with their muskets in hand to 
keep us out. The train moves off and the officers 1 baggage is left 
behind to come on the next train with the horses. 

At Gallatin we found Battery A. 1st Ohio, our old chums, and 
a right friendly meeting it was. Luckily we had some of the 
•• Medical Department " yet on hand, and gave them a good dose. 
They declared us the best doctors they had met in the army, as we 
did not mix quinine in everything we prescribed. 

Our "Chickamaugas" wen- becoming sO soiled and worn out 
that we wished to have something better to cover our heads before 
we reached "God's country." But how were we to get better? 
We had no money. Our credit was certainly not good, and it was 
impossible to draw. No; was it impossible? We thought not. 
We could draw a splendid hat quite handily from the head of some 
unsophisticated gentleman who might stand near the train as it 
started from a station. But we were in Kaintucky, that loyal 
state, and it would be a shame to so maltreat a loyal Kaintuck. 
But it would also be a shame lor us to cross the Ohio wearing 
such miserable "poll pads;" so drawing lsegan immediately, and 
before reaching Louisville we had exchanged many head covers, 
though in some eases we forgot to hand out ours. 

We reached Louisville at 5:45 P. M. and lay at a street corner 
near the depot until nearly dark, waiting for the captain to return 
with transportation. We succeeded in getting supper at the 
Soldiers 1 Home, and a good supper it was to us half-starved 

Yankees! At dark, the captain not having retur I. we marched 

down to the ferry, expecting to find him there waiting for us. 
There was no captain at the ferry. One id' our " L'als*" had a few 
words with a "condemned Yankee" guard who proved to be an 
old veteran; so all was speedily settled. It was growing late and 
we -tailed men out in all directions in search id' the captain, dust 
as the last boat was starting, the captain arrived. We shouldered 



292 BATTERY M, FIEST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLEEY. 

knapsacks and prepared to jump on board, but lie detained us T 
saying he had orders for us to go to Portland and take the boat for 
New Albany, as he could not get transportation over the Indian- 
apolis & Jefferson railroad. "We should have plenty of time to 
reach there as the train did not leave till IIP. M." We started 
immediately as it was feared the boats would stop running before 
we got there. We jumped into the first street cars that started — 
the orderly paying our fares in the first car and Lieut. Gillette in 
the next, while the others who followed rode for nothing. Some 
of us walked half the distance before a car caught us. The first 
car load reached the landing in time to secure passage on the last 
boat; the second car stopped just as the boat was out of reach. 
Those that crossed slept in the passenger house — the others 
calmly reposing on the sandy beach of the Ohio, and having the 
starry canopy of the heavens to cover them, were doomed to pass 
that night in Dixie. 

At 5:40 A. M., of the 18th, we again met on the free soil of 
"Hoosierton." Before starting the captain telegraphed to Chicago 
that we were then at New Albany on our way home, and asking 
that quarters be made ready for us. It gave us much pleasure to 
ride in first-class cars after three years deprivation of that luxury. 
Wishing to do honor to our new surroundings, and having some 
little time left before the train was to start, we toiled much with 
our toilet and soon appeared dressed in our best. 

At 9:20 we waved New Albany farewell and were soon enjoy- 
ing the rough road between there and Lafayette. We thought we 
had rode over rough enough roads in cattle and box cars while 
down in Dixie, but never had we felt anything to equal this. 
The "Comet' 1 was at the head of the train, but it went so slowly 
some expressed a fear that the train might pass it. Comets gener- 
ally travel rapidly and we soon felt thankful that the order of 
things had been changed in reference to this one, for the baggage- 
car jumped from the track while on a curve, and had the train 
been under great headway, some of us would doubtless have been 
injured. As it was, the delay only gave those of us, who were so 
inclined, an opportunity to feast on blackberries of which there 
were many near by. 

"Thirty minutes for dinner," cried the conductor, as we 

. stopped at Mitchell; but we didn't feel like eating. (We had no 

greenbacks was the reason.) At Bloomington we got the engine 



oub "• ii ii'iv camp \i«;n. 293 

••Planet," which we soon discovered traveled faster than the 
"Comet." We stopped for supper ai Green Castle, bul still had 
no appetite. (?) We reached Lafayette ai 10:10 P.M. and were 
told that the train had arrived about an bour too late to connect 
with the train going north, and that the nexi train would not 
leave till 8 A. M. of the aexl day. Thai was our paj for follow- 
ing a "Comet. 11 A.s it was raining quite hard we walked up to the 
freighl depot and found shelter under the projecting eaves of the 
large freight bouse. 

The morning of the 19th found n> as hungry as wolves, our 
appetite being sharpened by our exposure. It was still raining, 
and we shivered while thinking of having to go hungry and chilly 
until we gol home. Some little boys seeing soldiers al the freighi 
bouse, came up to learn what they could from us about war. 
Hearing us speaking about having nothing to eat. they started off, 
and s. Mm returned bearing baskets well tilled with bread, butter, 
pies, cakes, apples, etc. Some of them broughl the second basket- 
ful and said that "had their parents known of our condition 
sooner, they would have prepared us a good breakfast. 11 We. felt 
that we were really back in "Hod's country" and thankful to Him 
that He had seen tit to allow us to be, even if we had to he placed 
in such circumstances to realize it. The hoys' names as far as 
could he learned were Samuel Tierce, dames Covington, Warren 
Carpenter, George Stevens and Jacob Sherman. 

One of our men who had been out in town now returned with 
his anus full <d' bread and cheese, lie had found a man a store- 
keeper named (diaries Beers, who kindly lent him $2.25 with 
which to buy something to eat. This completed our breakfast 
and left us a morsel for dinner. We gave the noble youths such 
army trinkets a> we could spare, and they bade us good-bye feeling 
highly delighted. 

We were off at 8:20. The captain told us that such as chose 
could visit their homes now ami that he should not require their 
presence at Tamp Douglas till Saturday. Some of the men who 
lived on the Pittsburg, fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad gol off at 
the crossing of the Great Eastern Railroad, that road having been 
built during our absence. 

We reached Michigan City at 12:30. As we came In sight of 
Lake Michigan a cheer, louder, heartier, more prolonged than ever 
before had been heard in the Battery hurst forth. A- soon a- the 



294 BATTERY M. FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

train had stopped, many of ns ran down to the beach to once more 
feel the invigorating touch of the clear, cool waters. 

As one of the cars had become disabled, we were given one of 
the Michigan Central Railroad, and at 1 P M., were again under 
way. While changing cars, the captain again telegraphed to 
Chicago, this time to have a dinner prepared for us at the Soldiers 1 
Rest. 

At one o'clock the train was again in motion to be delayed no 
more till we should reach the place where, three years before, we 
had signed our identures "for three years or during the war," and 
where all were soon to be restored to our civic rights. 

Bill, our faithful contraband, was with us, having accom- 
panied us home for three reasons. First, the unsettled state of 
affairs in the south in reference to freedmen; second, a desire to 
see the land whence so many Yankees had gone forth to battle 
with the rebel hosts; and third, to draw his pay, he having 
received none for over a year. After passing Lafayette he was all 
ejaculations of surprise and delight, and as we came to the prairies 
over which were roaming many herds of cattle, his delight was so 
great that he could only clap his hands and say, "I deelarf 1 The 
farming implements that stood at the different stations caused him 
to open wide his eyes as their different uses were explained to him. 

By the time w T e reached Chicago, 3:15 P. M., about twenty of 
our number had left us. We marched to the soldiers' Rest" where 
we partook of an excellent dinner prepared for us by Mrs. Barks- 
dale and other patriotic ladies. Mrs. Barksdale assured us that she 
had had a far better dinner in readiness for us, but that owing to 
our delayed arrival it was enjoyed by another battery that had 
arrived about an hour before. 

After having done full justice to this bountiful, and to us 
royal repast, such of us as resided too far from the city to go to 
our homes and return by Saturday, repaired to Camp Douglas, 
where we were furnished good quarters and an abundance to eat. 
The entrances to the camp were no longer guarded, so we could 
go in and out whenever we pleased; and being now at home we 
soon found all the money needed and therefore spent but little 
time in camp. 

On Saturday, the 22d. all met at camp; but as the ''rolls'" 
would not be completed before Monday, we again scattered. 



ouk •• 1 1 1:1 in ' 1 lmpaign! 295 

Monday the 24th our muster-out papers were completed, but 
there was much to be '1 before we could be linallx dismissed. 

On the 25th we raffled to see who should have "Battery." 
Nichol proved to be the lucky one. As each of us had his picture 
we cared not so much for the possessi £ the dog himself, know- 
ing that all could not enjoy his ownership longer as we had for 
nearly three years. Besides the dog rnighl die, bu< the pictures 
were immortal. We also decided on who should write the story 
of our "sojer life" and appointed a committee of three to attend to 
the matter. 

On the 26th the old order regarding rain was still unrevoked, 
for it poured down nearly all day. The reports of the Battery, 
and all its papers being fully completed, at nine o'clock we "fell 
in" once more and marched out through the east gate, where cars 
were ready to take us to Randolph Street. Here we again, and for 
the las! time as a Battery, formed line, and. having right faced, 
man hed to Kin/.ie Street near Rush Street, and by threes went up 
a flight of stairs, where two important gentlemen were standing 
behind a counter. One counted out our greenbacks as fast as the 
different amounts were called out, while the second very politely 
handed us some small pieces of paper on which were our names, as 
indebted to Mr. Purdy certain sums, which amounts had been 
religiously taken out of our pay. not varying more than five cents 
either way. Mr. Purdy as will be remembered was garrison artil- 
lerj sutler at Chattaj ga. 



296 BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

Our names were called as follows: 



Morgan Banks . . . . 

Joseph R. Hansen 

Edgar Stebbins 

Patrick Short- 

John Amberg 

Nathaniel Banks 

August Schnasse 

George S. Harter 

Ellis K. Mercer 

William Cogswell 

Chas. J. Clute 

Alphonzo R. Korah--.. 

George Lissenden 

Orson B. Felt 

John G .Scales..-. 

William Hamilton 

Alonzo L. Brumfield.. 
Edward G. Thompson 

George E. Dolton 

*Henry H. Brown 

Chester B. Powers 

James S. Trumbull-.. 

Sidney Briggs . _ _ 

Wesley A. Briggs 

Dankmar Adler 

John II. Albee.- 

Carlos G. Hunt 

Erastus F. Henderson 
Alexander Huffman.. 

James E. Harding 

John Howard 

Bernard Hughes 

* John Hammond 

George H. Johnson - . . 

Thatcher Krum 

Jacob Kopf 

Timothy M. Kane 

John Kempf . _ 

Maynard Loomis 

Stephen Lissenden 

William Little 

George Little 

Samuel A. Murphy... 
Andrew McDermott.. 

Frank W. Mead 

Alonzo G. Mundell-.. 

Patrick Mack 

John Martin 

Jean Martine 

John G McAllister- .. 



1st Sergt. 
Q. M. Sergt. 
Sergt. 



Corporal 



Artificer 

Bugler 

Wagoner 

Private 



Edward Anderson Private 

Albert Beedle.. 

William Batterson 

Christopher Boylon... 

Thomas Bonser. 

Nicholas Balziger 

\Yilliam B. Brown 

Josiah X. Barr 

George Carey 

Edwin Cain... 

John B. Colby 

Sylvester T. Clancy. .. 

James Coslet 

Charles Cope . - - 

Norman Chapman 

Samuel Dezelle. -.-.-. 

William Duffy 

* James B. Drake 

Joseph W. Dyson 

*Charles Franck 

Henry J. Flint. 

Charles D. Gammon. . 

Isaiah Harper 

Robert Howard. 

Christian Hotter 

Richard Hamilton 

James D. Miller. 

William NichoL 

Frederick A. Newton 

Henry Offenloch 

Jose ph Proctor 

Cephus L. Porter 

Samuel Patton. 

*Jacob Premer 

Albert J. Rowley 

James Rollins 

Daniel W. Ryan 

Joseph Ralph. 

Thomas N. Rhodes.. 

Frederick Roper 

Robert Stewart- 

George Simpson . 

Carlos E. Wright-- - 
Ezra S. E. Winnemore 
Frederick Westendorf 

Samuel S. Weyl 

Emery M. Wilber.. 

xllfred S. Wilson 

Louis Young 



*Not Present. 



oil; •' UK I TV I AMI'AK.X. 



29*t 



With our greenbacks we received our discharges, telling as 
plainly we were no longer "blue backs/ 1 We then settled up our 
little domestic accounts, shook bands and parted, rejoiced and 
thankful that so many of us were permitted to return, and happy 
over the thought of a speedy return to our relatives and friends; 
happy to think that the union was once more restored and peace 
reigning throughout the land, hut pained to have to part with our 
more than brothers; from comrades with whom we had associated 
for three long and weary years years of marching, battles and 
suffering; years in which we had stood by each other through all 
the vicissitudes of toil, dangers and hardships. But we though! 
that now we were free to aet as we chose, we could meet again as 
often as we should sec tit. as long as we were given life and health, 
and so we shook hands, sent our respects to each one's friends, and 
said "good-bye". And Battery M, 1st Illinois Light Artillery. 
was no more! 

Our muster-out rolls showed the condition of the Battery to 
he as follows: 



DEATHS. 



I.ee Phillips.. 

Henry Rennau — . 

Adam Gerbert- 

August Kellerman. 
William Eendershot 

Leroy II. Barnes ... 

Watson Brailey 

Michael Dempsy... 

Conrad Norton 

Thomas Peters 

Peter Scott 



Killed in battle - Sept . 

Sept. 

by explosion of caisson... -.Oct. 

.... Oct. 
Died at Nashville from wounds re- 
ceived in battle, June IS. 1864 ..July 
Typhoid lever at ( 'ampliellsville, Ky Dec. 

Measles at Franklin, Tenn -- Feb. 

Typhoid fever at Chicagalll <>ct. 

July 
Feb. 



Kbin Gower. 



Diarrhoea at Shelbyville, Tenn 

Measles at Louisville. Ky.. 

Diarrhoea at Camp Douglas before 

muster-in - 

Recruit; died before reaching Battery 



•Jo. 
20, 
24, 
24. 

29, 
26, 
23, 

1"). 
IT. 



1863. 
1863. 
L862. 
1862. 

1864. 
1862. 
1863. 
1862. 
1863. 
1863. 



June 24. 1862. 



298 



BATTERY M, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 



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OUR " HEFT1 " C \M1' \li.N. 



299 



TRANSFERRED. 



Veteran Reserve Corps. 



Henry Kelner. 

Francis M. Merchant 
Thomas Richardson- 
Charles Marcks — 
Stephen Hendrie — 
Charles C. Fuller — 

Lewis H. Miller Gun Boat Service. 

'•David E. Spencer... .Miss. Marine Brigade 
*Henry Babcock — 
*Hiram < ». Johnson 



Navy 



A.pr. 

July 
Nov. 
An-'. 
Jan. 
Apr. 
May 
Feb. 
Feb. 
Feb. 



20, L863. 
9, L863. 

If,. 1863. 

7. 1864. 

21, 1865. 
24. 1864 

8, 1865. 
■J. is<;:{. 
•J. is.',:'.. 
■J. is.;;<. 



Special order No. 89, 1 >«■] »t . of Mo. 



DESERTERS. 



Name. 



Cyrus F. Smith 

Edmund X. White. 
William P. Gregg ... 



Joseph Baker 

August Hack 

Andrew 'I'. Irwin.-. 

William Carroll 

Max Hornung 

Nathan Johnson -- 

John Quimbv 

Robert M. Williams 

Collin William 

William Walker... 
William M. Brown 

William Ryan 

Henry J. Thompson 

Horace Brown 

• lames summers 



From what place. 



('amp Douglas 



Camp Douglas, brought hack to Bat- 
tery Nov. 22, left again at Louis- 
ville .Ian. 30, 1863... 

Columbia, Kv .. __ 



Date. 



Sept. 
Sept. 



is. 1862. 
27, 1862. 



Louisville. Kv. from boat. .... 



Carrolton, Iml. 
Triune. Tenii. 



Sent. 27. 
Nov. 24, 
Nov 
Dec. 



Ian. 
.Ian. 
•Ian. 
.Ian. 
.Ian. 
.Ian. 



24, 

21. 
30, 
:<<». 
30, 
3i ». 
30, 
30. 



-Ian. »». 
Feb. I. 
Feb. 1. 
Feb. I. 
June 15, 
June l"). 



1862. 
1862. 

1862. 

1862. 
1863. 
1863. 
1863. 
1863. 
1863. 
|s.;:<. 
isc,:{. 
ls.;:<. 
1863. 
1863. 
1863. 
1863. 



300 



BATTERY Iff, FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 



DISCHARGED. 



Name. 



Joel Brigga 

John L. Morrill 

Peter W. Setzer 

John B. Kauffman.. 
John C. Stewart... _. 
William A. Aldrich. 



John Zanger.. 

Henry Kieper 

Thomas Adams... 

William Siegel 

Richard J. Wells . 
George W. Peters . 

Lucius Fish _. 

John Shaffer 

William Farrell... 
Patrick O'Toole... 
Myron McLanin... 
Marquis L. Axtell. 
Joseph B. Hunt... 



Peter Brandon 

Charles M. Judd 

William J. Murphy.. 
Edwin C. Gillette . . . 

Hans Johnson 

Israel W. Stone. 

Magnns Tait 

Thomas S. Baker 

James Trowbridge. 
George Hutchins... 
Orange V. Mercer. . 
Augustus H. Titus. 



Place of discharge and reasons. 



Chicago. 111., rupture 

" •' over age and disease. 
Louisvillve, Ivy 



Louisville. Ky. by reason of injuries 
received from explosion of caisson 

Oct. 24, 1862 

Ditto 

Louisville, Ky . . 

Xashville, Tenn 

Franklin, Tenn 

Xashville, Tenn 

" consumption 



Louisville, Ky 

Triune, Tenn. drummed out 

Xashville, Tenn.. 

Louisville. Ky ... 

" " deafness _ 

" injuries received 
kick from horse 



by 



Loudon, Tenn. for promotion 

Before Atlanta, Ga. for promotion. . 

« « « « « 

Xashville, Tenn 

Madison, Wis. loss of leg at Chatta- 
nooga campaign, 1863 

Vicksburg 

Xashville. Tenu 



-Chattanooga, Tenn. 
- [Louisville, Ky 



Date. 



Oct. 

Oct. 

Oct. 

Nov. 

Xov. 



Jan. 

Feb. 

Feb. 

Mar. 

Mar. 

Mar. 

Apr. 

Apr. 

June 

June 

June 

June 

July 

July 
Sept. 
Apr. 
Aug. 
Aug. 
Oct. 

Dec. 

June 
May 
June 
June 
June 
June 



1862. 
1862. 
1862. 
1862. 

1862. 



1863. 
1863. 
1863. 
1863. 
1863. 
1863. 
1863. 
1863. 
1863. 
1863. 
1863. 
1863. 
1863. 

1863. 
1863. 
1864. 
1864. 
1864. 
1864. 

1864. 
1865. 
1865. 
1865. 
1S65. 
1865. 
1865. 



<>ri{ " HKKTV CAMPAIGN. 



301 



RECAPITULATION. 



Number of different commissioned officers, 

•• men mustered in A.ugust 12th, lso-j. 

" recruits reach the Battery 

died en route 

•• men mustered into the Battery. ... 

detailed 

connected with " " . 

killed in battle. 

•• detailed men killed in battle. ... .. 

•• men " by accident. 

died from wounds.. .-- 

* disease 

" taken prisoner. 

" " " discharged. _._. 



L50 

19 

1 

170 

157 

327 

3 



l 
31 



" men transferred - --. 

absent at muster-out 

" " deserted 

present at mueter-out. 

" our men wounded in battle. — 

" detailed men woundedin battle 

" our " " by accident 

detailed. 

" furloughed. 

•• promotions among commissioned officers. ... 
men 

" men received commissions. 

" times drew pay 

•• horses killed in battle. 

'• miles traveled ■ - - 

by railroad 

" " water 

marched-. --- 

traveled bv right section.. 

" left " — 

" " " center " 

" rounds fired at the enemy 

•• •• target (about; 

" blanks "_. - 

•• guns discharged 

" days under lire - - 

• we fired at the enemy . ■ 

•• guns used during our service ._ 

- kinds of guns used during our service — 

*One of these (Peter Scott) died before being mustered in. 



10 

•"> 

18 
i»4 
1»5 

6 

7 
50 
is 

4 
20 

:* 

7 

39 
lo-2 
369 
571 1 
,163 
,131 
040 
135 
845 
rj:> 
800 
770 
17s 

61 

n 

6 



B D '06 




HISTORY 



o:f* 



Battery M, 

Pirst Regirr^er\t 
Illinois Iwigh^t Artillery. 





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